Conversations with Jonathan Metz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Metz.

Hi Jonathan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in an artistic household as my mother is one of the most talented artists I’ve ever known. I ended up going to art school at The Tyler School of Art at Temple University where I was a walk-on with the Temple Football Team and earned a BFA in Printmaking and Certification in Art Education K-12. After graduation, I started teaching art at the elementary and then high school levels until I left teaching in 2019 to work as a civilian contractor for the US Navy. I also served in the US Army Reserves as first a Horizontal Engineer and then a Civil Affairs Sgt. Paratrooper.

While teaching I found it a struggle to maintain a career as an artist as I felt how most teachers feel, which was always exhausted, underappreciated, and overworked, making my passions in the arts very difficult to pursue. Once I left teaching after an 8-year career in 2019 I found rejuvenation in my artistic motivations and inspirations and started pursuing my art career on a whole new level and haven’t looked back since.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has been a very bumpy road. A lot of ups and downs along the road. A huge struggle in pursuing my art career was due to my career as an art educator. As an educator and like most educators I was asked to wear multiple hats, I was underappreciated and held back in and outside the classroom, and constantly brought my work home leaving my time monopolized by my career. As a teacher, it’s your passion, but the ability to pursue other passions isn’t just good for your mental health but also your quality of life. The oppression dealt with by the district’s administration left me looking for a way out to save the state of my mental health. Thankfully, I was able to bounce back into a new career with the US Navy as a civilian worker.

I found more understanding and support from my superiors leaving me reenergized to pursue my art career and more time in which to do so! Serving in the US Army reserves was a proud time in my life, but also provided struggles. I have finished my career as a US Soldier and am now in the best position to put my all into my career as an artist with a whole new world of inspiration from experience. I appreciate all my past professional and personal experiences as they all provide inspiration to my work.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a professional in multiple media forms in the arts, but I currently specialize and focus on a technique called pyrography which is when you burn your work into a wood surface. Along the way, I constantly try new products and techniques in which to create new works of art. I use wood stain almost as a paint itself in my work often paired with gauche and oil paints. I have also been known to carve my woodwork and use techniques such as hydro-dipping and adding paper elements such as newspaper. A big part of the commission orders I receive is pet portraits, athletic portraits, and landscapes.

Some small works I create and am commissioned for are wooden ornaments, coasters, signs, and personalized cheese boards which can be ordered through my Instagram @jmetz_art by DMing me directly. I am most proud of my larger pyrography creative works inspired by my experiences and personal relationships which I have recently shown abroad in international exhibitions in London and are available for purchase as photo reproductions on my website www.TheMetzArtGallery.com. I am constantly working toward expanding my brand and exposing my work to the world.

What do you think about happiness?
Growing my brand as an artist and seeing people enjoy my work brings me so much joy. To know they can bring my work home with them which can be a source of joy for them on a daily basis is awesome.

Another thing that makes me so happy is my dog, Asher. I love taking him on hikes, road trips, and virtually anywhere I’m allowed to. He is quite amazing and my partner in crime.

Pricing:

• Pet portraits start at $200 Ornaments start at $75
• Landscapes start at $300
• Athletic Portraits start at $300
• Original works vary in price and are available as photo reproductions at a fraction of the original price
• Personalized coasters and cheese boards start at $50

Contact Info:

• Website: www.TheMetzArtGallery.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jmetz_art
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/jonathanmetzfinearts