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Jonathan McHugh

425

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

I am a painter of scenes from the natural world as well as internal scenes in semi-abstract figurative paintings. I graduated summa cum laude from Colorado State University in 2016 with a B.A. in Art Education and taught high school art for several years before pursuing a career as a full time artist. I am currently earning my MFA in Painting at Laguna College of Art and Design and intend to teach at the college level after graduating. Recently, my work has been recognized by publications such as Southwest Art, Realism Today and Plein Air Salon.

Education

Laguna College of Art and Design

Master's degree program
2023 - Present
  • Majors:
    • Fine and Studio Arts

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Bachelor's degree program
2012 - 2016
  • Majors:
    • Fine and Studio Arts
    • Education, Other
  • GPA:
    4

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Arts

    • Dream career goals:

      Artist, Higher Art Education

      Terry Masters Memorial Scholarship
      Winner
      Whenever I am in nature, whether in the wilderness or my neighborhood, I cannot stop observing the way light flickers through trees, dances over waves as they crash, ricochets off the jagged angles of rocks, or diffuses through the sky into a golden haze on a distant horizon. I feel profoundly and vividly alive when I am outside in this myriad of sensations. Combining these experiences with my other deepest passion – painting – is an absolute joy for me. Over the years, I have found that my plein air paintings begin to capture an energy that I can rarely replicate in my larger studio works. There is something almost magical about the challenge of conveying the weather, season, time of day, and emotional impact of a scene through paint in real time. I am on a lifelong quest to visually portray my sense of wonder in nature, and the thrill of painting lies in the fact that I never quite succeed but get a little closer with each attempt.