Dr. Jack Bishop Ethnomusicologist, Educator, Musician, Artist

I was naturally gifted in fine art. Producing quality pieces of art came naturally to me. Music was different. I had to learn and yearn to develop those skills. Since then, I spent my life negotiating the conflict between the musician and the artist within, each wanting to dominate my mind and time. In retrospect, all I managed to do was find a way to allow them both to co-exist without one destroying the other. The journey was not always easy. However, today, I enjoy vibrant expressiveness in both art forms. And the journey continues...

Although I work in many mediums, most of my favorite work is in Pencil or Oils.

Oils


Journey to Dawn 48" x 48" oil on canvas	Billie 48" x 48" oil on canvas Commissioned Piece	Arara 36" x 36" oil on canvas

Pencil

I was inspired by the restoration
project of this colonial theater in
Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. I stood
in front of it for a very long time,
sensing its history. From a rough
sketch and a photograph, I drew
my tribute to the historic cultural
stage. A decade later, I attended
a concert of Antonio Nobrega in this
theater.

Teatro Santa Isabel
9" x 12" Pencil on Paper
c. 1992

Continuous Line Drawings

When I was studying art, I spent so many hours in front of my easle drawing figures that I saw them in my sleep. For a few wintery months we drew 4 hours per day 5 days per week. I usually used conté crayon on newsprint for figure studies, but once in a while to break the monotony, I would use a pencil on paper and draw the model without lifting my pencil from the paper once I got started. I did many of these to the astonishment of my instructor. The three drawings below represent this style. Each drawing is ONE continuous line. I went back later and added the shading.

Figure Studies

As mentioned above, I did figure studies for about 20 hours per week for about 12 weeks. Below is a small example of my experimentations in conté crayon on 24" x 36" newsprint.

Word Sculptures

In summer 1987, I developed a 3D wall piece to commemorate my love of jazz. I covered it with articles and images of my favorite jazz masters and hung it on my wall.

At one of my infamous jazz parties, and there were many, a very important person in the Pittsburgh retail industry saw this sculpture and wanted some made for his store. In all, he asked for seven different sculptures. I delivered them in time for the holiday season and they occupied the huge store front windows in downtown Pittsburgh for a month.

"Jazz is the Word"

Word Sculptures Commissioned by Hornes Department Store in 1987

It was a boost having these works displayed in such style as I was an art student. After they were removed from the main store, they made their rounds through the other branches for about another six months.
After that, they were unfortunately destroyed when the chain closed after 100 years of business.

Commercial Art/Design/CD Covers

I have designed literally thousands of items for people worldwide and continue to do so. Items I have designed include: album covers, posters, print advertisements, product packages, CD and DVD packages, T-shirts, hats, patches, postcards, brochures, flyers, books, magazines, circulars, pamphlets, business cards, logos, letterhead, web sites, guitars, guitar parts, furniture, decks, patios, fences, walls, landscapes, a birdhouse, a doghouse, and even a residential fountain.

One of My Media Cabinet Designs

CD Covers

To date, I have designed more than 100 CD packages. Honestly, I lost track around 100 and that was in 2007.
I love to design CDs for independents and I strive to bring a big label look to their product.
If you are looking for a great designer for your CD or DVD package, look no further. Please visit this page.

Web Sites & Internet Graphics

I started building websites around 1999 to meet my own needs. Before long I was doing sites for nearly everyone I knew. Since then I have done too many sites to remember.

Thank You for Looking!