From the Realm of Dreams: Artist Brings Fantastic Visions to Life

While much of artist Jon Carraher’s work is the creation of his vivid imagination, his meticulous attention to detail sometimes leaves people to wonder, “is this a photograph?”

The self-taught artist in York County, PA appreciates that people not only notice but often become immersed in that detail. For some artists, there’s nothing wrong with using a sponge to dab in a bunch of leaves, but Jon’s style is different. “I have to paint every leaf,” he explains. “It gives that feeling of going out in nature, and if you look at even a tiny spot, you see an endless number of things.”

Indeed, there are many elements of nature that make their way into Jon’s imaginative creations. “I really like to try and make things feel as close to what is going through my imagination as possible,” Jon says. “It’s about capturing all of the elements to really bring it to life in our point of existence here.”

Jon’s artistic journey started when he was three or four years old, when his mother grew tired of cleaning crayons off the walls of the family home. She would learn to sit him down at a table with a stack of papers, and he would draw for hours. In school, he would draw on the backs of tests, much to the chagrin of his teachers. “Back then, I never really pursued art as a career, but I always knew I wanted to do it,” says Jon.

Jon would go on to receive some schooling in multimedia and 3D animation before landing a job at a packaging and display company, which eventually transformed into an engineering job. Though his job didn’t have much to do with art, people would commission him to do various art projects on the side. After seeing a few art shows for the first time in his early 20’s with other artists making a career of their craft, the realization of Jon’s dream sitting on the backburner became reality.

Soon, Jon began signing up for shows, finding that people enjoyed his work and felt a connection with it. Eventually, art became a part-time job with bigger projects, better displays and a full schedule of shows. Six years ago, Jon quit his job, and the rest is history. “My dad would always say, ‘do what you want to do, but do your best and make something of it,’” says Jon, who also greatly appreciated the encouragement he received from his mother throughout his journey with art.

Jon’s realistic renderings of imaginative scenes draw comparisons to James Gurney, the artist and author known for the illustrated book series Dinotopia. “I draw from my imagination, the dreams or visions that are going through me. Then I work on taking what I’m seeing and feeling internally and portray that out,” Jon says. “I want people to be able to walk into that space.”

When it comes to his creative process, Jon explains that he may have 1,000 ideas running through his mind at any given time, but the real magic comes from channeling dreams and the subconscious. “Part of my brain never shuts off, and there are times when I have a daydream, a very vivid dream while sleeping, or powerful vision in journeying through meditation, and if it really strikes me as interesting or important, I’ll write it down or sketch it out,” says Jon.

Sometimes he will go to work on an idea right away, while other times an idea may remain in the sketchbook for years. Then he decides how he wants to bring the idea to life – whether it’s a drawing or painting, a sculpture, a carving or something else. “I do a lot of landscaping work too, so it could be a mix of different things.  I plan everything out, and then I go to town on the final piece,” Jon says. “Some people may prefer to do a bunch of studies or practices, but for me, a lot of times, I just get right into it.”

Jon typically starts with a main structure. As he’s working on the piece, spots will grow and evolve. “It’s kind of neat in a way, how you’re planting a seed of things. It can be a single idea, or it can be more complex. But I often start with a main idea, and then little elements will grow,” notes Jon. “And by the end, it’s just the whole story of something going on.”

Over the years, Jon has used a variety of mediums and techniques in his work, and his appreciation for each has evolved, especially painting. “I’ve always loved drawing and the use of colored pencils,” Jon says. “I didn’t like painting so much when I was younger, but I loved the way it works and looks. It’s a slower process, which can make it a deeper spiritual journey. Sometimes I can easily spend months or years slowly working on and off with a piece. I can’t work on a painting 30 hours straight and say, ‘I’m finished.’”

Carving, sculpting and landscaping require a different thought process. “When it comes to sculpting, you have a time limit because things will dry; carving is subtractive; and landscaping needs functionality,” says Jon, contrasting the different techniques with painting. “There’s something special about being able to work in a one-layer-at-a-time process, which you build upon. It’s the same with gardening.”

Jon finds viewers’ reaction to his work very gratifying, as they immerse themselves in the experience. And sometimes it’s surprising. “People can have very different perspectives on things. One may comment on how a piece is such a happy, light place, while another will say they find it dark and scary,” Jon says. “But when I take my work to art shows, it’s always really neat to see people get lost in the scene and have them describe to me what’s going on. It’s like they are watching a movie. I appreciate having that connective kind of return.”

“A lot of people come back years later and tell me how much they enjoy seeing a piece every day in their house, and what it brings to them,” Jon explains. “I find that to be the most surprising in a way – how I can give people something that they just really enjoy, non-stop every day. I love that I’m doing something I love, and it’s a source of something good for people.”

One of the biggest blessings in his art journey has been finding and living life with his partner, Jennifer Becker, who also shares a lifelong journey with art and creating. “It’s not only amazing to share this life experience, but also so exciting to see where this path will take us next and what we create together in this duality of a new journey.”

Stay tuned to the Rose Squared website for Jon’s next art show appearance. Find him online now at joncarraher.com and follow him at facebook.com/joncarraherart or instagram.com/joncarraherart.