Jonathan Knuttel

Jonathan Knuttel is primarily a self taught figurative painter, however, he also produces both landscape and animal paintings. As part of the process of producing these, Jonathan tries to find the patterns that appear as we human beings attempt to ‘tame the landscape in which we live’.

In Jonathan’s own words:  “At times, as we make our mark on the landscape, we transform the land and give mother nature a uniformity that would not otherwise occur; hedgerows, tilled fields, rows of planted crops, and even the buildings and structures we erect, in order to maintain our dominance over the land, in many ways give order to the chaos of our environment”

Jonathan uses a mix of acrylics and ground pumice.  He explains why the pumice is important.  “The pumice, initially formed deep in the belly of the earth, and then spewed out in violent, volcanic eruptions, gives a grainy, earthy texture and appearance to the paintings, which mirrors the landscape in which we live”

Jonathan tries to make the ordinary feel extraordinary, not only in his compositions but in his colour palette, by using the full rainbow of colours! He says “colour gives roundness to a surface and depth in the feeling of the surface; in fact, colour is the rhythm, form and mood of a painting”

Jonathan boasts an extensive and impressive client list that includes the following:
David Bowie-musician, Microsoft-USA, Mr Steve Martin-actor, Dr Hook-musician, Miss Ireland Franchise-Dublin, Mr Damien Rice-musician, Brian Sommers Holidays-Northern Ireland, Yamamori Restaurant- Dublin, Aer Rianta International- Ireland, Ardal O’Hanlon-actor and comedian, Deutsche Bank-Germany, MCL Financial-Hong Kong,  Mr Alan Lau-Hong Kong, Rabobank-Netherlands, Mr Jim Curley CEO Jones Engineering-Ireland and the list goes on

He has presented his work in many solo exhibitions both in Ireland and abroad and has been included in many group exhibitions in Ireland, England, New York, Miami, Madrid, and Hong Kong.