about the artist

Living in Northern Ontario near the Quebec border, Jon Tobin grew up amongst a landscape and people who are deeply representative of both traditional Canadian heritages. French and English meet in a place that is wild and rugged, always changing, and yet largely untouched by human demands. Watching highly skilled craftsmen create beautiful sleigh harnesses and other quality hand-built pieces in the old ways gave Tobin a unique perspective on how art and life intersect in traditional cultures. The French Canadian film "My Oncle Antoine" is a story, a film and a setting the artist can identify with as Tobin's childhood was very similar to that of the boy in the film. The severe winter in a small village were the child experiences the death of another child and the problems surrounding removing the body in winter. He also discovers the appealing sexuality of women during this long winter. The child's responsibilities become adult in nature.

Jon Tobin's academic education has included   University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Guelph. Tobin uses traditional materials to create paintings that have both longevity and luminosity. Colours are applied in a glazing technique similar to that used by the Old Masters. Reminiscent of French Canadian Ozias Leduc's work, Tobin's paintings are spiritual in nature, using landscapes figurative and portraits to explore and address our sacred connection to the natural world.

Paintings of Algonquin Park reflect  spiritual awareness, reflecting Tobin's own interest in delving beneath the surface of a scene to interpret the responses that nature evokes in our most primitive selves. More urban scenes also retain a feeling of the primacy of nature using moments of change, such as dawn or dusk, to remind us that as we move through the world, a larger, more universal movement is also occurring.

Jon Tobin's works have been sold to collectors from around the world including Brad Garrett, from the television series Everybody Loves Raymond. Recently Jon Tobin produced commission pieces for Warner Brothers The Gilmore Girls Television series. Paintings are available through Willow Gallery in Toronto, annually at the One of a Kind Show, Toronto, and at Tobin's Kitchener studio. Commissions are also accepted. Please contact artist's studio for more information.

Zoe Studio Dog

Hi my name is Zoë. I am a Black Labrador Retriever and I supervise Jon's studio. He is lost without me and my sense of direction. I also create my own art: part of the Found Object School. When I was young I ate The book of Job and a ringed femme fatale poetry book and digested all.

My day starts with sharing a Tim Horton's donut. I always get the last bite and a few in between. That's the way it is. Its all in the eyes of a retriever. I celebrated my fourteenth  birthday this year with a pizza, my favorite. My philosophy on life: live life one day at a time and make the most of it!

music thoughts

The Velvet Fog was the first band I played with and there was still an element of fun along with the work of holding a group together. We played in Ontario and Quebec and had an underground following.

Painting is such a private occupation in comparison to playing in a band.

Farm Life

This picture is taken on Dells farm where I spent a lot of time as a kid. The Dells were great people and taught me to trap  ,hunt and survive in the bush.   I had the unofficial job of watering the horses. I loved being around these two gentle work horses called Canadians. They were used in a variety of jobs around the farm including logging, haying, and, of course, riding. That's Tom in the background and me on Molly the horse. This was taken on the day the encyclopedia man came by. None of us could read or write but the books binding and covers looked inviting. Electric lamps throughout the house but no hydro. All that has  changed now.  Everyone goes to school. I later went on to study Fine Art and Canadian  Literature at the University of  Waterloo.