Jon Jones
The Darker side of History | 2020
3 pieces
As a teenager, Jon Jones was drawn to the darker side of history. Shunning playing football with his friends, he instead investigated his local pub in Kings Heath, Birmingham, where the landlord regaled historic tales of its use as a mortuary. This macabre curiosity is weaved into his newest collection of limited edition giclée on canvas prints, which depict the infamous Peaky Blinders gang.
Incorporating his research alongside the curator of the West Midlands Police Museum, his Autumn Winter // 2020 series captures the murky underworld of the early 20th century. The monochromatic portraits are presented in striking dark frames, which elevate the shadows and add a haunting new dimension.
We're also thrilled to be raising funds for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity through the sales of John's artworks. In December 2020, we were proud to present the hospital with a cheque for £4,541 - just in time for Christmas!
A mini masterclass
If you've ever suffered from the dreaded painter's block, Jon has some advice for you! "Enjoy what you’re painting," he suggests. "If what you’re painting isn’t going well, just leave it and come back to it when your mind is fresh. Start something new. What you’ll do with the new artwork is learn things to do with the piece that isn’t going as well."
He also recommends preparing your working space before starting to paint, adding: "Make sure you have clean materials. In the past, I used to pick up a dirty paintbrush from the night before, but now I make sure the palette is cleaned down, my water is clean and my brushes are sharpened ready for the next session."
"Whenever I choose a portrait to paint, I want to make it feel alive. You read a face by its emotion."Jon Jones
Related media
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This year's Father's Day is on 16 June, so we've curated a special selection of artworks we think he'll love. We have something for everyone, whether they love sport, music, films, wildlife, food and drink or pretty much anything else, we've got a huge selection of pieces that he'll treasure forever.
The 50-metre installation depicts characters from the hit Peaky Blinders TV show. You can help us to raise money for Birmingham Children's Hospital by posting your photograph and tagging @castlegalleries with the hashtag #Brum4BCH.
The Office Bar & Restaurant in Dudley, West Midlands, is home to over 20 original and limited edition works by the Birmingham-based painter, whose atmospheric scenes capture the notorious criminal gang.
Dating back to the 12th century, this genre is associated with the spookiest night of the year. But with our twisted collection of artworks, you can enjoy the dark side all year round.
It may sound fancy, but this term simply refers to a popular printing technique used by painters, photographers and illustrators. Click to find out more.
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