Jason Tako
Jason Tako
Jason Tako paints historical Native American subjects, western landscapes, and wildlife in a painterly realist style. Born and raised in rural Minnesota, he honed his drawing and observation skills by sketching and painting directly from nature. Several years later, Jason began exhibiting in some of the nation’s top wildlife art shows and plein air events where he won many awards for his landscapes and wildlife works. Finding a home in historical Native American subjects, his love for the landscapes of the American West has combined with his exceptional draftsmanship and interest in history to create magnificent works of painterly expression depicting cultures and ways of life that are forever etched into the American Frontier.
Artist Statement: While growing up in rural Minnesota, I would spend hours in the wetlands and wooded areas sketching and observing the wildlife and nature that surrounded me. I soon became known by my teachers and peers for my artistic abilities, and eventually won an award in a state-wide high school illustration exhibition.
During my senior year in high school, at the urging of some friends I switched my focus to learning music and electric bass. I graduated from McNally Smith College of Music with the Outstanding Bassist of the Year Award. But ten years later, after realizing how much I missed the outdoors and recording my observations, I bought a sketchbook and headed back out to the woods and wetlands. There I painstakingly worked my way from pencil to watercolor while using nature and wildlife as my subject matter and teacher.
Not long after, I went back to college, earned my degree in Applied Visual Arts and was encouraged by my teacher Bara Arens to pursue a career in fine art. I furthered my studies under renowned landscape artist Scott Christensen while rediscovering a passion for plein air painting.
Direct experience is the primary inspiration for my work, which blends realism with painterly expression. Usually I see a location or subject matter that interests me, create field studies on location (plein air paintings) and take photographs. Back in the studio this reference material is utilized to create the final painting. Other times I complete a painting on location- alla prima, en plein air.
Many of my paintings are from visits to Wyoming or my home state of Minnesota. Yet I’m often found painting locally where my wife and I raise our children in southern Pennsylvania. I believe I am only plagiarizing the beauty God has given us…
…since created beauty is ever in motion, and God is ever constant, I view art as an effort to make ever changing beauty ever constant. In this way I hope to lift the viewer to a contemplation higher than what is seen.
-Jason Tako
Recognitions:
Featured Artist-2020 Southeastern Wildlife Expo
Oil Painters of America 2019-Landscape Award of Excellence
Oil Painters of America 2016 National Juried Exhibition
Society of Animal Artists 2016 Annual Exhibition, Art and the Animal
Oil Painters of America 2016 Eastern Regional Juried Exhibition
1st Place-Plein Air Camp Hill 2015
Plein Air Magazine Award of Excellence-Plein Air Camp Hill 2015
Quick Draw People's Choice Award-Plein Air Camp Hill 2015
People's Choice Award-Plein Air Camp Hill 2014
Honorable Mention-Plein Air Camp Hill 2014
Award of Excellence-NatureWorks Wildlife Art Show 2014
Utretch Award-Cumberland Society of Painters First Annual Exhibition 2013
2nd Place-Local Color Plein Air 2013
Quick Draw People's Choice Award-Plein Air Camp Hill 2013
Society of Animal Artists 2012 Annual Exhibition, Art and the Animal
2nd Place-Easels in Frederick 2012
1st Place Quick Draw Award-Plein Air Camp Hill 2012
People's Choice Award-Plein Air Camp Hill 2012
2nd Place-Mountain Maryland Plein Air 2012
Best of Show-Contemporary Fine Art International Miniature Juried Show, Fall 2011
Juror's Award-Paint the Parks 2011 Mini50
Western Art Collector Editor's Choice Award-51st Annual Art & the Animal Exhibition 2011, Society of Animal Artists
Vanishing Landscape Award-Plein Air Easton 2011
Best Architectural Painting-Plein Air Easton 2011
1st Place-Plein Air Camp Hill 2011
2nd Place Quick Draw Award-Plein Air Camp Hill 2011
2010 Recipient of the Evelyn & Peter Haller Distinguished Young Artist Award, by the Society of Animal Artists