Perceptual art in perspective

Brilliant exhibition from Jason Wilson shows at Circle Cinema through February

After 10 minutes, I realized I’d been staring at the same painting, appropriately called “Visual Overload.” My vision was hazy and the colors seemed to pulse with a strange energy—I was mesmerized. But then, that’s what Oklahoma artist Jason Wilson wants. Twenty-one of his paintings are showing now at Circle Cinema, and each is a unique and entertaining experience. 

Perceptual art is “about” how the observer interacts with shapes and colors. When I asked Wilson about designing his bizarre visual effects, he said, “I want to provoke a reaction from the viewer. It’s interesting to me what people see, and how often people see something different than what another person sees. I have learned to let each painting stand on its own, because sometimes people see in them something much better than I planned.” 

This is what Jason loves about perceptual art. Each person brings his or her own interpretations (and perhaps illusions) to the canvas. There’s so much room for exploration in each of his paintings, and Wilson works hard to eliminate distractions that might detract from this exploration. As a result, his paintings are so technically flawless and precise that it’s stunning.  

The Tulsa Voice: Tell me a about your family history and how that shaped your art.

Jason Wilson: My Grandmother grew up in southeast Oklahoma on property that we always referred to as the “old place.” I remember going to her parents’, my great grandparents’, and it was like going into the past. She cooked in a stove that was heated by wood, and on that stove there was always a pot of beans. And this was the world she grew up in, and quilting was taught to her by her mother. As I grew up, I was always fascinated with the 3-D effect of her quilts. This was the “spark” that influenced my art. As a young child, I just remember seeing these large creations suspended from the ceiling by a rope attached to each corner of the quilt she was working on at that time. As the quilt developed, I was always amazed at the patterns, but particularly the 3-D looking pieces.

TTV: Some paintings, like “Visual Overload” and “Diamond Weave,” have bold colors that skip around the spectrum. Then pieces like “Angel’s Wings” use many shades of more basic colors. What’s your process for selecting colors?

JW: To me, color is the most important element of my work. Sometimes I draw out my designs directly on the canvas and then spend days thinking about the colors I will use. I see them in my mind, and I play around with them in my visualizations. I even dream about them. Often, the colors in my dreams are the ones I use. To me, it’s all about color and how colors interact and play with each other.

TTV: Many of your pieces produce bizarre visual effects. I’m thinking again of “Visual Overload.” Certain colors begin to radiate and dominate the canvas, and then others take their turn. I’m also thinking of “Infinity,” which has a delightful ripple effect. Do you plan for this, or is it just a happy accident?

JW: Yes, I do plan the effects. Sometimes they go beyond what I imagine, and sometimes they fall short of my expectations. But I invest a lot of time deciding what I want each painting to “do” or “say.” It’s a process of learning the interaction of colors, patterns and space. I want to provoke a reaction from the viewer. I have learned to let each painting stand on its own because sometimes people see in them something much better than I planned. I think it’s because viewers bring to the painting their own thoughts, influences and interactions.

TTV: What were your interests as a young person, and how did you end up becoming passionate about art? 

JW: Building things—anything—all things. I liked to build dams out of rocks in the streams on my parents’ land. I liked to build models and bridges. As a child, I learned how to complete grid drawings. I loved the process of building the drawing. My mom was an artist, so I always had that positive influence concerning art. I took art classes in junior high and high school and always seemed to be the teacher’s favorite. During my 11^th grade year, my art teacher challenged me to complete a painting—this was not something I wanted to do, as I just liked to draw.  However, she insisted, and my painting took first place at the state fair. I was hooked.

I completed Oklahoma Baptist University with an art education degree so that I could teach art, and I have been teaching for 25 years in Oklahoma—16 years at Seminole, and I’m in my ninth year at Hartshorne. I cannot remember a time in my life when art was not a passion. It’s just part of who I am, and I enjoy it immensely.