Perry County
Paintings
Jason was born in the rural part of the Mississippi Delta where he began drawing at an early age – “actually, for as long as I can remember I have always been drawing”! His family moved to Greensboro, Alabama (Hale County) when he was 10 years old, where he graduated from Southern Academy in 1992. Jason attended Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa on an art scholarship, awarded by the renowned artist Bethany Windham Engle. He graduated with a degree in Studio Art and promptly began a career in graphic design. During that time, he continued to hone is drawing skills, doing various portraits of his kids and family, and the occasional pencil and pen commission.
It wasn’t until June of 2021, following a move to Uniontown (Perry County), when he watched a YouTube video that he learned mastery techniques of oil painting. “I use glazes and mediums to achieve the three-dimensional effects and realism in my oil paintings. I ensure that each piece is of archival quality and will last a lifetime. I consider a great painting much like a building project – a solid base – a good foundation – carefully placed layers – and finally the details.”
“There’s lots of really cool towns around Alabama that I just want to go and spend the weekend painting,” he said. “People seem to really like local art, and that fits into my thing. I want my art to be useful, in a way. How can it be useful? I think it can touch people. I think it can remind them of home.”
In addition to his work as a visual artist, Irvin is an accomplished musician himself. His band, the well-known bar rock outfit Fuzzy Navel, was active throughout the region in the 90s and early 00s. Today, he can be found recording music in the studio and busking around Alabama and the South under the name “Hock” (#HockMusic on social media).