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names conjure up images of greatness and a total mastery of artistic form. However, it has been said that God is the greatest artist of them all. Every one of His creations, from the tiniest insect to the nebulae of the universe, is truly a work of God’s art. Thus, it can be argued that any artistic endeavor can actually become a vessel for God’s vision and a testament to the beauty of creation. In fact, such luminaries like Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci have expressed, through both their work and their words, the spiritual motivation that helped to forge their creativity.

Rembrandt. Picasso.

Like these great artists, Albany native Jon Meshanko says that he has also been expressing his faith through his art for most of his adult life. “I believe that God is the Ultimate Creator, and He has expressed His glory and creativity in the physical world and the creatures that inhabit it. My goal is to reflect upon God’s handiwork through my art as merely a (type of) secondary Creator,” says Jon.

The 26-year-old artist recalls that his journey into creativity began at a very young age when his father would take Jon’s simple drawings and show him how to make them actually come to life. “My dad has always had an affinity for art, and I was constantly drawing as a kid. I can vividly remember always having crayons and paper around,” he recalls. “For some reason, I was obsessed with drawing planes, although none of my current art reflects that. My dad would look at my work and encourage me to make them more realistic. As an industrial engineer, he is really attuned to proportions, so I took his words to heart, and it definitely helped me to begin to grow as an artist.”

Jon continued to hone his artistic skills throughout his middle and high school years, always with the encouragement and support of his father and other local artists. “One of my heroes is an artist named David Lanier, who is also an Albany native. I take a lot of inspiration from him, as well as from the wildlife in South Georgia, where I grew up.”

In 2018, Jon graduated from the University of Georgia with a double major in anthropology and religion. Oddly enough, art was not his focus while attending UGA. “I was in the humanities, but didn’t take any classes dealing with art. I’ve really had no formal training, other than a couple of art classes in high school, but that’s about it. However, I revisited my love for art while I attended college as a way to relax and manage stress. That’s when I realized I truly have a talent at it, and it would be a waste not to pursue it.”

Along with divine inspiration, most of Jon’s work is inspired by the beauty of wildlife and the great outdoors. He feels that his work is reminiscent of “hyperrealism,” a genre of painting and sculpture that closely resembles a high-resolution photograph. “As I’ve been developing my skills over the years, I’ve really tried to hone in on the Southern hunting culture – birds, hunting dogs, fish, and natural landscapes. I’m a hunter myself, and hunting trips on the weekends with my father are some of my most vivid and treasured memories. I guess that’s why I’m currently interested in developing that genre.” So far it seems that folks are responding favorably.

Today, what began as a therapeutic hobby has now turned into a passion for Jon, and he continues to create beautiful pieces of art by continuing to develop and grow as an artist.

John Williams, owner of Knights Apparel and Gifts, had heard about Jon’s talents through his manager and another employee who had attended high school with him. “Jon and his father came to me while he was still in college, and he showed me some of his work,” John says. Impressed, he commissioned the young artist to paint a picture of a shoal bass. “I told him that if we liked the picture, we’d print it on a t-shirt. We’re a family business that’s been around for 42 years now, so we try to support budding local artists. Needless to say, we were impressed when he and his father brought the painting in.” John then had it printed on some of the store’s Flint River t-shirts to be sold. “That’s basically how our relationship began.”

Jon’s prints and the clothing that bore his works soon proved to be a big hit at both the Dawson and Leesburg locations…so much that John commissioned even more pictures, including a painting of the store’s mascot, a golden retriever named Cooper. “Jon agreed to do an oil painting of my dog, which was only the second time he had painted with oil,” recalls John. “He brought it back about three weeks later, and it was magnificent.” John decided to add Cooper to Jon’s t-shirt collection as well. “The Meshanko Collection has been very popular at our store, so we’ve also had some other prints made that Jon signed.”

“John Williams has really encouraged me to grow as an artist; he’s been like a mentor to me over the years,” explains Jon. “In addition to the wildlife and landscapes I’ve done for him, I’ve also done some collegiate designs as well. It’s truly been a great personal and professional partnership.”

After graduation, Jon worked in a ministry in Augusta for a few years before he and his wife, Isabel, settled in Stuart, Florida earlier this year. Although his works are still available at Knights Apparel and Gifts, he now works with an artist based out of Jupiter, Florida. “At Farano Fine Art, we do all the printing and framing of his works in-house,” he says. “I’m really excited to be part of his production team. Our focus deals more with world of sports, so there are some high-end clienteles that we cater to.”

Today, what began as a therapeutic hobby has now turned into a passion for Jon, and he continues to create beautiful pieces of art by continuing to develop and grow as an artist. “I hope to have my own studio someday. Isabel has been really supportive and has encouraged me to pursue this dream, so I credit her with giving me the incentive to chase my dreams. We’re both just dreamers at heart.”

“Jon is unique because of his humility and generosity, and he creates his art because of the joy it brings to others,” says Isabel about her talented husband. “Our dream is to own a beach front art studio and be able to travel the world. I hope our future consists of seeing more of God’s creations so that Jon can paint His masterpieces, and I can hike, surf, and climb the landscapes that he paints. Then maybe one day we can have artistic surfer babies!”  ALM

The 26-year-old artist recalls that his journey into creativity began at a very young age when his father would take Jon’s simple drawings and show him how to make them actually come to life. “My dad has always had an affinity for art, and I was constantly drawing as a kid. I can vividly remember always having crayons and paper around,” he recalls.

written BY ZACK SHEN | photos Courtesy of ArienCo