Jason Najarak
"Go Paint"
BIOGRAPHY OF AN ARTIST

Meeting Picasso
Standing outside of Pablo Picasso's villa in France, Jason Najarak wondered if he was doing a wise thing. He had been at his post for over four weeks and so far had not even seen a glimpse of Picasso, let alone had a chance to talk to him. All he wanted was a lesson, some advice or at least a word of encouragement. This was Jason's first trip to Europe after spending some time in California where he had worked and was befriended by Vincent Price. The actor was also a world-renowned art connoisseur. Mr. Price, after looking at Jason's work, suggested that he go to Europe and study with the Masters, as had many great painters over the centuries. Jason took this advice and was now in France standing outside the Villa of Pablo Picasso.

Jason approached Picasso’s gate to ring the bell for the umpteenth time. Suddenly the gates opened and a man came out and requested he come inside. Once inside, Jason was greeted by Picasso's wife and asked what he was doing there and why he was harassing Picasso. Enthusiastically he tried to explain that he wanted lessons from the Master and this was the only way that he was able to get in touch with him. He was told "Picasso does not give lessons" and he was asked to leave and not come back. Before he reached the door, he saw a small stocky man emerge from the shadows of the stairway and come forward. It was the great Master himself.

He asked if Jason could mount canvass. Jason said “yes” and was led into the back area of the villa where there was a huge empty room. In the center of the room was a table filled with paints, brushes, stacks of newspapers, an easel, and a chair. The rest of the space was bare. Jason was later to discover that this room, devoid of all work, was Picasso’s inner sanctum, his private painting studio. Jason was taken through this area and shown the canvasses that needed stretched and he immediately set to work.

A few days later, when he had finished, Jason asked the Master about the lessons. Picasso looked rather irritated and said, "I have looked at your art work. It will do. Here is your lesson: "Go Paint." He then turned and walked away.

Well "Go paint" is what Jason has done ever since. Master Najarak developed his work through careful stages, bringing him to his present mode of expression. It is called Primal Realism and is growing into a major art movement here and in Europe.

Najarak's art is a combination of a Master's command of color, strength of line, and carefully balanced composition. His work is unique in that it follows Picasso's method of creative expression while evolving out of thought and spontaneous action, one work naturally leading to the next. All paintings are dated with the day, month, and the year to track this progress.

Apprenticing with the Masters
Jason decided to go to Europe, on the advice of Vincent Price. While there, he found that a whole new generation of "Masters" were working. He worked and studied with such impressive art luminaries as Picasso, Dali, Fuchs and Hundertwasser. These Masters worked with him and challenged his creative resources.

In 1974, Jason discovered the work of Ernst Fuchs and moved to Vienna to study under this Master of the Mische Technique. Fuchs was a member of the Fantastic Realism Movement in Vienna. While in Vienna, Najarak entered the Vienna Fine Arts Academy (Akademie on der Schillerplatz) where he learned etching and studied under Rudolf Hausner.

Here, Najarak began his lifelong pursuit to unlock the lost painting method of Jan Van Eyck, the father of oil painting and the Mische Technique. Mische has been long considered the finest painting technique in the history of oil painting.  Jason unlocked the mysteries of Mische and now teaches seminars on the Technique throughout the world. In 1979 Jason founded the Van Eyck Academy of Painting in Wageningen, Netherlands.

“Go Paint”
The years 1970 through the present have been filled with exhibitions in North America and in Europe.  He has done individual commissions such as a gold leaf dome ceiling, designed and installed for Bill Gates in Seattle, Washington. During this same period he has painted over one hundred murals worldwide. The most famous and controversial was in Sequim, Washington where he was commissioned by the Holiday Inn Corporation to paint The Last Supper on the front of the local Holiday Inn. This received worldwide attention and media coverage. Murals painted by the artist include works for museums and businesses including the Mayo Clinic and The Red River Museum of T.B. Walker, in Akeley, Minnesota (whose family founded the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

Jason has also demonstrated an ability to work with other media such as glass, bronze, gold and silver. His creations in gold and silver have been commissioned by Heads of state around the world.  He has restored art and artifacts in various churches including stained glass windows.

In the 1980s the artist established an art movement called Primal Realism, an offshoot of Fantastic Realism. Primal Realism is based upon Children's creative expressions. He takes the primitive work of children (ages 4-7) and through the eyes of a child, paints what that child sees. This art movement was centered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and exhibited at Elayne's Gallery in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. He has recently donated Primal Realism artwork for Auction for Free Arts Minnesota as their featured artist this year. His Primal Realism paintings have been exhibited in galleries and museums in North America, Europe and as far away as Hong Kong, and Japan. In the 1990s Najarak has found his own, new form of personal expression after working Primal Realism. These works, which are based upon pure spontaneous creative expression, want for a title.  Jason continues to pursue this vein or creativity.

He has lived in Jerusalem, London, Vienna, Turin, and Paris where the artist continues to paint and sell his work. He has had shows in Japan, Vienna, Turin, Manchester, Basel, Portofino, Hong Kong, and Jerusalem. His art hangs in the offices of Heads of State all over the world including that of President Carter.

More encouragement from Greatness
That great Queen of Surrealism, Gala Dali, upon seeing Najarak's work for the first time, held the painting aloft and said "Tre Bien, Jason, Tre Bien. Now I see there is still hope for new Art—I must have it, it must be mine." Her husband, Salvador Dali then bought it for her.

Jasaon Najarak was told to "Go Paint" and he has, and he is.

Jason's Biography

Jason's Resume

Jason Meets Picasso - "Go Paint"