Jonte Drew | Visual Artist

Thank you the directors, organizers, and volunteers for running the fair this past weekend. I also want to thank everyone who came by my section and showed love. I’m humbled by all of the positivity and genuine interest in my work and my story behind it. Big thank you to the collectors who bought my work. You have no idea how much your support means to me and I’m looking forward to seeing my work in your homes. In just a few weeks, I’ll be exhibiting the series that I’m currently working on and I’m looking forward to seeing how everything comes together. 📸 @bmtarts #jontedrew #visualartist #jerseycity #artfair14c #artfair #oilpaintings #pasteldrawings

Last week I had my first in person interview with @fawn_photos from Jerseyarts.com Feautures. We had a really good conversation about everything from my background, inspirations, themes within my past and current bodies of work, mental health, masculinity within the Black community, the power of arts education, and honeybuns ofc. 📸 @fawn_photos

Honored to have my first interview with @cstreadway @pix11news for @artcrawlharlem Fire & Soul 2022: “We’re Still Harlem” Art Exhibit. We talked about about the beauty and importance of the exhibit, my work, and maybe honeybuns. Thankful for this opportunity.

“The Black Sheep in Green Pastures” Oil on canvas 36in x 48in This is the last painting from my MFA thesis series, “In Green Pastures”. Oil painting | portrait painting | contemporary artist | fine art

“The Black Sheep Meet” Oil on canvas 36in x 48in 2021 This is the 5th painting from this series. It captures the moment where the “black sheep” are about to meet for the first time in the Green Pastures. The next painting will be the last one from this series. Oil painting | contemporary art | portrait | painting

“Lil Black Lamb with a Lily” Oil on canvas 36 in x 48 in 2021 In pop culture, a “Black Sheep” is looked at as an outlier or a disfavored member of a group. In this series, the “black sheep” is a symbol of innocence and youth. Contemporary art | oil painting | portrait painting | realism

My Thesis Paintings | Part 1 | No. 3 “The Benchwarmer” Acrylic on canvas 36 in x 48 in 2021 This is the third painting from Part 1 of this series, “In Green Pastures” Inspired by two of my favorite painters, Aaron Douglas and Kerry James Marshall The paintings from Part 2 will be posted next week Contemporary art | visual artist | fine art | realism | portrait painting | acrylic painting

My Thesis Paintings | Part 1 | Number 2 “It’s About Time!” Oil on canvas 36in x 48in Barbershops in Black communities are far more than just places we go to get a cut. As we sit and wait, we listen and engage in conversations about sports, music, politics, religion, movies, and relationships etc. The concept of time plays a large role in the barbershop: from the old fashioned interior, to the barber’s family photos on the mirrors, to the news playing on the tv. It’s a constant reminder that while things are constantly changing, some things never change. Oil painting | Contemporary painting | Contemporary artist | Portrait painting

“Just One More Hour……. or Four” Acrylic and oil on canvas 36in x 48in 2021 This is one of the six paintings from my MFA thesis series, “In Green Pastures”. I wanted to take the viewers on a journey through two worlds; the “real world” and a world that “feels real”. This series touches on some of the complexities of manhood in relation to Black men. (Composition is inspired by Annie Frances Lee’s, “Blue Monday” painting) . . . Portrait painting | contemporary artist | contemporary painting | black art | oil and acrylic painting

Had to show off this beauty before I shipped him to his new home. “The Durag” | Digital Painting | Open Edition Printed on Kodak Endura Premier lustre paper Vibrant colors, slight sheen, smooth texture I’m holding an 11in x 14in print and I have a 24in x 36in size available I’ll be adding more digital paintings to my shop this week. . . . . #artreels #artprint #blackart #blackartist #artcollector #contemporaryart #digitalpainting #portraitart #portraitpainting

Daydreaming ✨ Pastel on watercolor paper 24in x 36in *This drawing is sold This is the last drawing from the “Take a Breath” series

This was the first floral durag that I made about a year ago. I wanted to tell a story, focusing on a connection between a young man, nature, and his desire for peace. The Ubuvuzi (Healing) Rag Pastel on watercolor paper 24in x 36in 2022 . . . . . . #art #artistsoninstagram #artreel #drawing #blackart #blackartist #blackart365 #contemporaryart #artcollector