RACING LEGEND MARIO ANDRETTI SIGNING AN ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING BY JONATHAN FRANK

A commercial airline pilot by profession, Jonathan Frank projects his passions through painting. “I believe that the artist should be able to capture on canvas the experience of speed and motion thus conveying all the facet that it entails in a clear, yet artistic manner.”

Jonathan started to develop a serious pursuit of aviation art after he had worked his way up through the general aviation ranks into the airlines. Yet, like most kids growing up, his school notebooks were filled with sketches of airplanes, race cars and nonacademic subject matter. This little hobby continued all the way through his college years at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as, in his brief career as a Missile Launch Officer in the USAF.

His "little hobby" started to evolve into painting his immediate passion, flying. A scholarship from the American Society of Aviation Artists sharpened Jonathan’s skills as a painter and focused his attentions to the dynamics of producing a good work of art, not just a picture of an airplane in the sky.

Due to his international travels, Jonathan broaden his spectrum of subjects to include sights of Paris, London and Tokyo. While on his overnights, he would sketch or paint a color study to capture "the moment in time." Furthermore, Jonathan's childhood interests in racing and automobiles was propelled to the canvas, as his brother Steven Frank, involved Jonathan in his SCCA racing adventures. Wherever the adventure takes him, Jonathan captures it by-way of canvas.

"It is my objective when I first come up with an idea for a painting, that the painting must be artistically correct, technically accurate and aesthetically pleasing so as to invoke an emotional response from the viewer. By artistically correct, I try to make the composition of the painting similar to the variable rules and laws that governed the great art produced from the Classical to the Impressionist period. Technically accurate does not mean I paint every rivet, but that the subject is instantly recognizable, yet rendered in an artistic manner. And what good is a work of art that is disturbing to look at? (Unless that is the purpose of the composition.) The final work should be pleasing to the eye and soul, so the viewer will be attracted to and become involved with the art. I see it as the, ‘Hey that reminds me of when I was…’ factor."

It was on this foundation that Jonathan started to be commissioned for his aviation art from various organizations: The National Championship Air Races in Reno, Continental Airlines, Continental Express Airlines, American Airlines, the Lone Star Flight Museum and The 1940 Air Terminal Museum. Individual clients also have commissioned him to paint aviation related subjects specific to their experiences. He has had his work displayed and has won awards at various aviation art competitions including the Experimental Aircraft Association, CAE Simuflight and The American Society of Aviation Artist’s Juried Exhibition. His paintings have been published in popular aviation periodicals: Aviation History, Vintage Flyer and Aviation Week & Space Technology. Recently, Jonathan's commissioned works have included depictions of historic racing cars of the Zak Brown collection, Bobby Rahal's Historic Motorsports Productions, as well as, other unique and historically significant automobiles.

"If you think that a commissioned piece of aviation, automotive or landscape art is something that would tell your story, showcase a particular aircraft or automobile, or recreate a significant event or place, I would love to discuss this with you!"