Jonathan Dobin
About the Artist
Jonathan Dobin (b. 1955, New York) is a painter and illustrator. He is the second son of Jerome A. Dobin and Rose Dobin.
Mr. Dobin is primarily self-taught. From the age of 9 through his teens, he was influenced by the works of Albrecht Dürer and the late German Renaissance artists. A linear assuredness, acute attention to detail and an archaic and often grotesque representation of portraiture are clearly evident. As commercial commissions became more prevalent his style became more varied and overall approach more spontaneous. Line quality and the molding of form remain prime interests.
He began showing at an early age and in 1971 a work entitled Surreal Landscape, which he painted with his brother, was purchased by the municipality of Bergenfield and was on permanent display at the Bergenfield Library. At 17 he began pursuing a career as a freelance illustrator and also began receiving numerous private commissions.
Commercial illustration commissions included National Lampoon Magazine; Racquet Magazine; The New York Daily News, Legendary Recording, the Bergen Record and many other venues. In 1984 he became the Director of Publicity at Herbert Barrett Management, the youngest ever to be appointed there. He won several awards for works at Arts Interaction exhibits in New York from 1997 through 1999.
From 1982 to 1992, Mr. Dobin turned significant attention to his pursuits in music: directing an award-winning chamber ensemble MUSE, arranging and composing works for films, choirs and ensembles, and producing a performing edition of The Beggar's Opera which was praised by The New York Times and performed throughout the United States.
Mr. Dobin put his creative life on hold from 1992 to 1995 as he recovered from a near-fatal accident. He resided in Newburgh, New York, from 2006 – 2018, where was again active in the visual and performing arts: putting on concerts of baroque and early American music, displaying in art shows, and being featured in local press. In 2018 he moved to Woodstock with his now-departed companion George Palmer (Sruti Ram) and continues to reside there.