John Azoni: Detroit Artist

John Azoni is an artist living and working in the greater Detroit area. His paintings consisting of portraits, abstract, landscapes, and objects are often characterized by their loose, energetic nature with thick brush strokes and abstract qualities. To purchase or commission work, send an email via the contact form below, or call 313-286-9100.

John Azoni: Detroit Artist

Sneak Peek: New Azoni Briefs

June 15th, 2011 · Uncategorized

Here’s a sneak peek at some new Azoni Briefs. I’ve been taking them in a new direction lately as I make new food-themed work for CHOMP! CHOMP! at Lansing Art Gallery.

New Azoni Briefs Paintings, John Azoni

I sort of hit a wall with the Briefs at a certain point recently.. just wasn’t as happy with them as I usually am, so I decided to turn in a different direction in my approach. I started by taking some cookies we had in the cupboard and really focusing in on the textures, and the shadows – getting a little more into the details than I normally do with this series. Then, as I was out to breakfast with my wife, I started noticing simple food objects around, like the little jelly container, and so in the same fashion, I made a painting out of that. What’s been resulting are some images that have a sort of quiet simplicity about them which I really love. I’ve still been approaching them as quick sketches though, which has actually been a great exercise for me… trying to render something a little more completely, while still making quick decisions.

These will actually not be up on my Etsy just yet. As I mentioned, they will be going in my show along with large-scale food paintings (separate from the Briefs series), and 15+ new Azoni Briefs which you haven’t seen yet, unless you’re my wife reading this, then you have seen them and you think they’re the best painting sketches you’ve ever laid eyes on.

Hope to see some of you at the show which opens July 8. Details here.

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29 Ways to Stay Creative (from To-Fu)

June 14th, 2011 · Uncategorized

I came across this motion graphics piece by To-Fu today on Design.org. I found it to be not only really engaging to watch (I wish I could do even a little bit of motion graphics) but also pretty encouraging, especially if you’re creative and find yourself in a slump from time to time as I do.

A few of my favorites:

  • “Surround yourself with creative people” (also for me, other people’s art)
  • “Go someplace new” (I’ve been trying to put this into practice)
  • “Have fun” – which goes hand-in-hand for me with “don’t try to be someone else’s perfect”

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.

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Azoni Briefs Food Painting Timelapse

June 6th, 2011 · Uncategorized

Working on new paintings for my food show at Lansing Art Gallery in Lansing, MI opening July 8, 2011. I made a timelapse of one painting. This is “Blueberries and Shadows” and is available for purchase here.

Blueberries and Shadows painting, Azoni Briefs

"Blueberries and Shadows", 2011 - 4" x 4", acrylic and pen on paper mounted on wood - retail price: $45

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The Art of Eating – A Pastry Illustration

May 28th, 2011 · Uncategorized

I recently completed a full-page illustration for The Art of Eating magazine. It was for a spread on a pastry chef named Shuna Fish Lydon. Here’s the completed piece:

Apple pie and berries painting, john azoni

I had never heard of The Art of Eating before doing work for them, and I have to say it’s a pretty great publication. Some really in-depth articles for the serious foodie.

art of eating magazine

I even learned a thing or two about strawberries in the process. The strawberries in the painting initially were modeled after the big grocery store strawberries. The editor suggested I make them smaller, informing me that the strawberries you typically get at the grocery store are not actually bred for flavor, but rather to withstand shipping. The real legit strawberries (like the ones that Shuna would use) are actually small to medium in size depending on the variety (I didn’t even know there was more than one kind of strawberry).

So THAT’S why the strawberries in my refrigerator are virtually tasteless!

So if you want some great commentary on all things food and wine, go get yourself a subscription to The Art of Eating. And check out my work in there while you’re at it.

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What’s New on Etsy – Chili Dog and Strawberry Cheesecake

May 17th, 2011 · Uncategorized

As you may or may not know, you can purchase small original paintings through my Etsy shop: Azoni Briefs.

Azoni Briefs is a series of short-form food paintings, that are priced accessibly, and work great in sets of 2 or more.

Last night it was a chili dog and cheesecake kind of night. Not sure how well those go together on a plate, but they’d probably look great on a wall.

Check out a couple freshly listed paintings below. Click on the images to be taken to their listing on Etsy.

Chili Dog Azoni Briefs

Chili Dog With Everything, 2011 - 4x4 in. acrylic - $45

Chili dog with everything by Azoni Briefs

strawberry cheesecake by azoni briefs

Strawberry Cheesecake, 2011 - 4x4 in. acrylic - $45

strawberry cheesecake scale by azoni briefs

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“Cooper” – A Mother’s Day Portrait

May 11th, 2011 · Uncategorized

For the last 5 years or so, I’ve been consistently painting the kids of one particular client of mine. By the time each kid reaches toddler age, Mark commissions me to help make his wife extra happy on Mother’s Day. It’s been fun in that it’s almost become an every-other-year tradition.

Cooper’s portrait is the 3rd painting I’ve done for them:

Cooper portrait painting young boy

"Cooper", 2011 - 16x20 in. Acrylic on canvas

I loved his outfit for this painting. The plaid shorts really gave the portrait some extra boldness on top of Cooper’s playful personality. Long hair and all, this kid’s gonna be a rock star some day.

If you’re interested in using Mark’s idea for this year’s Father’s Day gift (or next year’s Mother’s Day gift), send me a note. The turn-around time is about 1 month, so be sure to plan a little ahead.


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Art and Authenticity

April 22nd, 2011 · Uncategorized

When I was a student in art school, this question – “what is art?” – came up on more than one occasion, dominated that class period’s discussion, and ended with nobody having come to a sound answer.

Perhaps that’s a good thing, because I think that the process of expression is hindered when the artist knows that the end result has to possess a certain set of characteristics. Or even worse, that the final product has to win the approval of the art community, or has to be able to sell. Success as an artist at that point becomes about people pleasing, and that just wreaks of emptiness.

I think at its core, “art” is the process or the product of creating. But true creation is authentic. It wells up from genuine desires, thoughts, struggles, experiences, and the like. Creation carries the fragrance of authenticity; the creator truly expressing what motivates her.

Trying to make “art” is impossible. Ask one person and they’ll tell you that the art is in how skillfully you’ve made or done something. Ask another and you’ll hear it’s about how you’ve made them think. Or it’s both… and maybe some other stuff too.

A word of caution: I believe that the Bible is truth, and because of that I have some spiritual thoughts on the matter:

When God created the world, he ended each landmark – water, land, sky, life – observing what his hands had made and seeing that “it was good”. Good to him. There was no one else to create for, nor anything that would come about through Creation that would equal him, or that could rival him. He saw what he made out of his own authentic vision, and he knew it was perfect.

Art must be authentic. Artists must question more if their work is honest, than if their work is “art” in the eyes of others. We should first seek to be our true selves rather than to be cutting edge. And if our work is honest, it can’t help but be art.

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1 Year Anniversary, and Portraits of my Wife

April 15th, 2011 · Uncategorized

I just returned home from celebrating one year with my wife, Laura, in Chicago. We had such a great time! Laura had never been to Chicago before so it was extra fun to see her experience everything for the first time.

Laura LOVES traditions, so we had fun setting some in motion for our anniversary. One of them was to take a fun picture with something representing the number of years we’ve been permanently kickin’ it together. And here it is… the inaugural anniversary picture:

Other than that, we ate some great food…

saw some art…

and overall, had a great time celebrating and enjoying a much-needed change of scenery.

Well, I thought it would be fitting to post some recent portrait sketches, and it happens to be that Laura is a great muse, so here are a couple quick sketches I’ve done of her in the past month:

Laura Azoni sketch by Detroit artist John Azoni

laura in the morning, portrait sketch by detroit artist john azoni

Looking forward to many more years with such an awesome lady.

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New Painting – “Backyard Lumberjack”

March 2nd, 2011 · Uncategorized

Over the weekend I completed this painting. It’s a welcomed venture for me back into doing more consistent figure/portrait work.

Backyard Lumberjack, figure painting by John Azoni

"Backyard Lumberjack" - 2011, 7.5 x 15 in. acrylic on canvas

This past summer I was searching and searching on Craigslist for a good fire pit. After a couple weeks I finally found one, and drove about 45 minutes to pick it up. On my way back I picked up some some big logs from a friend of mine and asked my buddy Jonathan if he’d come with his chain saw, multiple axes, and his tattoos and help me chop this wood.

So we ended up with a pretty nice looking pile.

In the process I snapped a picture with my phone of Jonathan.

As I think I explained in a previous post, I’m trying to move in the direction of joining my representational work with my abstract work a little more closely. With “Backyard Lumberjack” I didn’t want to just do a typical figure painting, representing everything as it was in the picture. I wanted there to be a sense of disconnect from reality, in the same way our minds think in only semi-clear pictures. When you think about a memory in your mind, an image appears whether you realize it or not, and if you concentrate on it, you know what is going on in the picture, and you feel that memory, but there is still this layer of blurriness; not everything comes through in HD.

So that’s the direction I was stepping in here; a sort of blurred reality.

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Abstract Landscape Commission In Process

February 25th, 2011 · Uncategorized

My dad and step mom recently bought a place up in Suttons Bay, MI. Super nice, overlooking the water, just a short walk from the downtown area. So I’m currently working on a large painting for them. This has been a fun one to paint because I love painting large-scale work, and I’ve been given the freedom to create something based on my own vision.

Here’s the piece in process.

Abstract Landscape painting in process, John Azoni

3.5 x 5 ft. acrylic on canvas

I’ve been trying to break up the composition so that the landscape is not so literal. In general with my abstract work lately I’ve been trying to move towards compositions that are multi-layered with multiple dialogs happening between the shapes and marks presented… putting marks down, covering parts up.. making some areas complicated and contrasting them with quieter areas. I’m encouraged by this painting so far as it references styles I’ve worked in in the past, and sets foot in a fresh direction at the same time.

Stay tuned for the finished piece.

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