We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jason Turner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jason, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

All paintings, I’ve done, hold a place in my heart but the most meaningful projects/paintings are those that are military related. With me being a combat veteran, painting my brothers and sisters-in-arms offer a sense of pride and purpose for me. I say ‘purpose’, because as I am painting my fellow veteran, it allows me to have a level of honor, comfort and healing. I observe that same sense of comfort and healing when I present the veteran or their family their artwork. Case in point: This past Veterans Day, my 5 y/o daughter made an interesting observation. She asked me, “…daddy, how come tv (commercials) won’t show people like me (female/girl) in the military?” I noticed she was right, there were not a lot of commercials/tv shows etc. depicting women veterans. I paint a great deal of military portraits and realized I, myself, have yet to paint a woman veteran. Immediately, I started a new series called “The Woman Veteran” and reached out to as many female veterans that I could so that I may tell their stories through my art. I’ve completed 2 paintings thus far in this ongoing series and the feedback has been astounding. The pride exuding through their voices, emails and text have been an honor.
The outpouring of support, from all veterans, have given me an even greater purpose to tell their stories as well as my own.

Jason, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Since a youth, I’ve always dabbled in art. Growing up, initially, in New Orleans, the city’s artistry is on full display everywhere from architecture to food to paintings. I would replicate drawings/paintings, such as the Blue Dog by George Rodrigue, or draw my beloved New Orleans Saints players. Eventually, my fathers occupation within oil and gas, moved us around a few times but it opened my eyes to other types of art like realism. As I grew I would dabble with pastels-both oil and chalk-. watercolor and acrylic paint. I enrolled at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette to pursue a degree in art/design in 2000. Unfortunately, nightlife did not mingle well with school life at my youthful age, at that time, so I enlisted into the Army in 2001 (stationed at Fort Hood, TX). My art journey would take a hiatus during my enlistment but I found myself picking up a drawing pencil, soon after ending my service in 2005, to cope with depression. Shortly thereafter, I moved to Arizona, to get away from Texas as I felt memories created here (war/death/flashbacks/divorce/etc.) were making my depression overbearing. While in Arizona, I fell in love with my everything (MY WIFE), created a family with her and enrolled at Arizona Western College (AWC) for a second pursuit at obtaining a degree. My wife had front row seats to my chaotic episodes of depression/anxiety and anger and she stood there by my side through it all. All the while, I was still dabbling with acrylics and drawing pencils while studying at AWC when my wife suggested I switched to oil paint. At the time, all I knew of oil paint was it was expensive, you must have decent ventilation and it was expensive (I know I mentioned the cost already). Once she convinced me and I painted my first piece in oils, I noticed differences in how realistic oils were compared to acrylics and how manipulative oils were due to slow drying times. To say the least, I was hooked.
Fast forward to 2018, my family and I moved to Texas and I finally reached out to eventually receive help, that I desperately needed, from VA Houston/Tomball. I was still painting to help cope with depression but never displayed my “personal” art outside my home. I thought no one cared what I personally had going through my head. I hid my feelings the best I could, as I felt it made me weak but expressed it through art. In 2019, I still didn’t have a platform or network to display my art but eventually came across ChallengeAmerica (CAVarts), who give veterans such as myself a platform to express their creativity. The confidence, as well as support, CAVarts and my family had given, allowed me the courage to start JHT Fine Arts in January 2020. The year 2020 was very difficult from a business standpoint but we’re still clawing along. JHT Fine Arts offer oil paintings of portraits, classic vehicles and wildlife within the realm of realism. We paint on canvas sizes ranging from 11×14 to 40×60.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist would be witnessing the effects your art has on a person. I realized once I started to display my art (hurt/depression/love etc.), my paintings have become a revelation to many people. I’ve had viewers cry and open up to me. I’ve had viewers tell me how much my painting(s) meant to them. It gives me a sense of purpose. Although, I am painting for self-healing in turn I’m helping others cope or heal as well.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I would say my goal is to first and foremost tell every service member (past, present and future), that ‘I’ve Got Your 6′ (IGY6). If my art can help in declining or eliminating ’22 a day’, I’m for it!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jhtfineart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jht2/
• Facebook: JHTFineart
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-turner-5359bab0

Image Credits
Chris Bermudo- photography