Exclusive Interview with Jon Ching, 3rd Prize Winner of the RAYMAR Traditional Art Award, 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize by Bella Harris
With meticulous attention to detail and a profound appreciation of the natural world, Jon Ching transports us with a vison that underscores some of the critical issues plaguing our planet. Through his art, he provokes thought and inspired action for the plight of endangered species and preserving our natural heritage. Imagine a world without nature… a landscape stripped of its lush countryside and the wind devoid of rustling leaves and birdsong. The silence where once there was life; is a sobering thought.
He inspires viewers to look with wonder and foster a deeper connection between humanity, the environment, and all surviving within it. From delicate ecosystems to majestic forests and expansive oceans to arid deserts, his work emphasizes the importance of understanding the interdependence between humans and nature.
Each brushstroke becomes an allegory, forging a path through the creative mind to the heart of artistic expression. It’s within this space that the journey leads us to his soulful imagination, where animals of the wild emerge calling out their significance and rightful place on Earth beside us.
Medium & Dimensions:
Oil on wood, 30 x 24 in
As I’m writing this, fires are raging in Los Angeles, where I live, and though I haven’t been able to confront my feelings head on just yet, because I’m still in a state of shock, grief and alertness, I know that this experience will inform future works.
– Jon Ching
Ching paints a blend of magical realism that speaks to us of the importance of caring for habitat loss and the precious species that exist beyond the frenetic pace of our contemporary society.
Highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts, Jon Ching’s work echoes the call for raising awareness and encourages us to reflect on our own relationship with nature and the impact of our actions. Far deeper than just a visual representational of the magnificent creatures within nature, his art serves as a gentle yet powerful reminder of our responsibility to safeguard the planet’s biodiversity, preserving the ever-inspiring beauty of the wild.
The transfer of energy and flow of cycles of life above and below ground is magic unseen yet so vital for forests to thrive and thus, us.
– Jon Ching
Exclusive Interview with Jon Ching
Thank you, Jon for taking time to share with our readers! Through allegory your work explores the marvels of the natural world, “the resilience of nature in the face of human threats”, and the cycles of life and transformation inherent within it. Your painting, “Bardo”, achieved recognition and was the 3rd prize winner for the RAYMAR Traditional Art Award category in the Beautiful Bizarre 2024 Art Prize. Again, huge congratulations!
How did you approach the subject through this distinctive artistic lens, which allowed you to capture the ethereal qualities of nature? What were some of the challenges and triumphs you encountered during the painting process?
One of the themes I keep going back to in my work is seeing nature as divine. It’s a viewpoint in which people of the past and indigenous people interact with the natural world and one that I think is necessary to live sustainably on this planet. With that in mind, I made “Bardo” with the idea of it being the divine overseer of the forest floor.
This important habitat, and part of the ecosystem, is often overlooked but I’m fascinated with the magic that occurs in this liminal space. The transfer of energy and flow of cycles of life above and below ground is magic unseen yet so vital for forests to thrive and thus, us.
I found painting so many leaves quite challenging but didn’t want to skimp on the effort since it was a main part of the piece. A little triumph was painting a mossy hedgehog hidden in the leaf litter. It was a minor character that ended up inspiring a piece of its own.
Art serves as an emotional connection that is necessary to get folks involved. Art not only gives a face to the issue but also encourages the heart to do something about it.
– Jon Ching
How has your creative vision evolved over time, and as your understanding of your artistic prowess deepens, and personal experiences accumulate, do you feel your work is becoming more nuanced and reflective?
I feel like my work is constantly evolving because there are unlimited areas of the natural world to explore. It’s a joy to learn about new species and think of ways to incorporate them into works. Sometimes the simple pattern of a flower petal can inspire a work.
Something that my work has led me toward is getting more involved with conservation. I’ve been so encouraged to find that folks who enjoy my more fantastical and magical realism works also support my work bringing awareness to endangered species. In the past, I didn’t see how art could fit in with activism and conservation, but I’ve been stoked to find that it actually can make a huge impact.
Art serves as an emotional connection that is necessary to get folks involved. Art not only gives a face to the issue but also encourages the heart to do something about it.
My work has always been a way to express my experience going through life, and I use it as a way to process what I’m going through and how I feel about things. It helps me isolate and make concrete how I’m feeling about what life deals me, good and bad. As I’m writing this, fires are raging in Los Angeles, where I live, and though I haven’t been able to confront my feelings head on just yet, because I’m still in a state of shock, grief and alertness, I know that this experience will inform future works.
What has been the most transformative lesson, so far, in your art career?
As a self taught artist, it took me a while to find confidence in my work and identity as an artist. There wasn’t a clear point like graduating from art school where I could say, “Now, I’m an artist.” This, paired with my early shyness and social anxiety, dissuaded me from going to many art openings and I felt isolated early in my career.
Once I started to feel more like I was “worthy” enough to call myself an artist, and had made enough work that I was proud of, I started going to more shows and finding my way into an art community. That developed a sense of belonging in me and interacting with peers was a huge change in how I viewed my place in the art scene.
Being able to ask questions, listen to others’ experience and talk art has transformed my art making into a career and I’m happy that I can continue to do that while now being on the other side for young artists.
Will you share what a day typically looks like when you’re in the studio, and what activities/hobbies you engage in when you’re not immersed in your creative workspace?
A typical day for me is quite unglamorous. I like to start by turning on the diffuser with some essential oils and some music to get things moving. Depending on the day, the morning is busy with filling online orders and painting. After lunch, I have a short painting sesh before picking my son up from school and then another short painting sesh until dinner. In the evenings, I like to sketch and journal – and have developed a habit of another painting sesh if I have a solo I’m working on.
The small amount of off time I have is spent with my family. My son is still pretty young, so it’s a lot of playground time, reading books or playing the bad guy in the endless role playing we get into. I do enjoy cooking and wish I had more time to get into bigger cooking projects. But making kim chi and levain are regular practices for me.
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s artistic interests are so aligned with mine that sometimes I feel like the magazine was made for me and entering the art prize is a very small way to support the publication.
– Jon Ching
Why did you enter the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Art Prize?
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine is my favorite publication and I entered for a number of reasons. To support the magazine, to get my work in front of the panel of jurors, to see how my work held up against some of the most talented painters working today, to hopefully win something. I’ve entered for a number of years now and I’m stoked that I placed this time!
What do you feel you have gained from this experience?
I feel I’ve gained a new sense of confidence through this experience. As someone who paints exclusively the natural world (oftentimes pretending that humans don’t exist) in an ever deepening human-centric world, I often feel a bit intimidated going up against figurative works. I think artists, like me, who paint plants and animals are carving out a bigger spot, but the art world still loves to look at ourselves and so I was very happy that my work made it to the top.
Would you recommend it and encourage others to enter? If so, why?
Yes, definitely. It’s such an easy application process with a nominal fee and can really help artists, especially ones still early in their career, level up and get their work seen by important figures in the art world. Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s artistic interests are so aligned with mine that sometimes I feel like the magazine was made for me and entering the art prize is a very small way to support the publication. I also think, in general, that it’s good for artists to enter juried prizes. It’s a humbling experience and a good practice to put your work out there.
Lastly, with 2024 in the rear view, how are you approaching 2025? What exciting projects are you working on?!
2025 has a lot of exciting things happening and I’m approaching it somewhat rested and refreshed after a 2024 where I limited my gallery commitments and focused on personal projects that never get much attention. I’ve got a solo show with Beinart Gallery in Melbourne at the end of March and I’m really excited with the work I’ve been making for that.
After that, I’ll be shifting gears to make a series of works through my fellowship with the American Bird Conservancy. These works will all be focused on Hawaiian Honeycreepers, a family of birds endemic to Hawai’i that are very near to my heart and ones that I’m putting as much effort into as I can to fight extinction. Once that’s done, I’m going right back into making another solo in early 2026.
I also have my first international trip planned with my young family to Costa Rica. I’m so excited to see the biodiversity down there, enjoy some much needed relaxation time and make fun memories with my wife and son.
About Jon Ching //
Jon Ching is a self-trained artist originally from Kaneohe, Hawaii and currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Steeped in the natural beauty of O’ahu, Hawai’i, his island upbringing instilled in him indigenous lessons of appreciation and respect for nature, forming the foundation of his fascination with the natural and wild world, which deeply influences and drives his work.
Jon Ching’s devoted art practice and detailed realism is inspired by the interconnectedness of nature. His work is a surreal imagining of what limitless wonders and combinations nature can produce. New creatures and symbioses emerge in his meticulously rendered oil paintings, exemplifying the endless potential of life on Earth through metaphor and allegory.
Jon Ching’s ultimate hope is to inspire love and admiration for the universally unique beauty and intrigue of our planet. He regularly works to bring awareness to endangered species, the current mass extinction crisis and climate change, and continues to partner with environmental organizations in fundraising and educational efforts.