Meet Lon Levin | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lon Levin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lon, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I don’t think I pursued it as much as it is me. For as long as I remember I wanted to create art. It started when I was very young trying to draw cartoon characters that I loved. (Daffy Duck, Heckle and Jeckle and Popeye) My mother was an artist and noticed my talent so she dragged me along with her to painting class. The instructor was nice enough to provide pencils, paints and paper and I was hooked.

In direct contrast my father was very much against my learning about art and he was quite vocal about it. For many years I hid my talent from friends, family and especially my father. However, I was able to pursue my other love…sports with his blessing. I was a standout athlete for many years before I injured my knee in a racquetball tournament. At 20 my sports career ended.

At that point I was old enough to defy my father’s wishes and decided to pursue being an artist. I had no idea what that meant but I was willing to risk everything to find out. A girlfriend introduced me to Art Center College of Design. I was fortunate enough to be accepted by them as an advertising/illustration major and after that my goal was set.

The “why” I wanted to pursue a creative career became clear as I went through the rigorous training Art Center put you through. I was good and I received praise and support from teachers and my friends at school. I even got freelance jobs now and then. I realized that being a creative person, trained properly was a marketable skill.

After a long career in the arts I still create art and I love doing it. It’s not about getting paid as much as it is about creating work that is striking, communicates and entertains. I still get the same feeling of excitement when I start a project as I did when I sketched cartoon characters as a young boy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art, whether it’s a portrait or an abstraction is all about conveying feelings. I want the color, materials and imagery to bring forth the soul of the work. Rather than visual dictating what the viewer is suppose to feel about the work I want the viewer to interact and come to their own reality of the work. In other words I want to entertain and communicate to them.

I am most proud of my technical ability and versatility which allows me to create unfettered by limitations. I believe the secret to me surviving and thriving in various art disciplines is my curiosity factor. Acquiring the skills I have and the critical thinking I’ve developed was not an easy task and I failed many times. Sometimes small mistakes, others huge. I faced the fears I had about all of it and got up and tried again.

What I’ve learned is to follow your gut and never give up. That the most important thing in life are relationships.

What I want people to know about me is I am always trying to be a better person and I want to use my knowledge and skills to be a positive force in the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a beach guy, a local surfer so the first place I’d go to is the beach. Malibu on the pier for drinks and some appetizers. I also like riding bikes on the bike trail.

A great place to eat casually would be the “Reel Inn” on PCH and for a more upscale dinner say Nobu.

Downtown, I like the arts district and especially taking in the graffiti walls. Great places to eat there. Shows at Dorothy Pavillion and Disney.

Hopefully one of the Lakers, Rams or Dodgers are playing during the time.

And of course the Strip, Whisky or Troubadour if someone good is playing.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My grandfather Joseph Felder, and especially my mother Lenore Citron who recognized my talent long before anyone else.

I had many terrific teachers at the programs of UCLA undergraduate and Art Center Advanced Degree. Most notable were Dwight Harmon (AC/Painting) Richard Diebenkorn (UCLA/Painting) Herb Ryman (AC/Drawing) Eugene Fleury (AC/Experimental Drawing)

Throughout my career I have had a lot of encouragement and help from other creatives. Most notable are Richard Ingber SR VP Marketing (20th Century Fox) Michael Douglas/Producer Romancing the Stone, Haim Saban (Saban Entertainment) Elie Dekel/Marketing VP (Saban Entertainment) Paul McCartney/Producer Give My Regards to Broadstreet Susan Sullivan/Friedland Jacobs, Ray Jacobs/Friedland Jacobs and most recently John Campbell (RE Broker & Actor, Producer), Peter Lorimer/RE Broker & Netflix star and writer/artist T D Lake.

Finally I have to acknowledge Tony Robbins who’s salient words and encouragement helped me through some very tough times. And my wife Ahavia who has been everything to me over the last 12 years and whose encouragement and critical thinking has enhanced my work beyond anything I had ever imagined when we met.

Website: www.levinlandstudio.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lon_levin_art/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lonlevinrealestate/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Levinland

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/levinlandstudio

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2vY43qlTKqdsHoAZuAjMuw

Image Credits
Credit: Alan Harris Photography (2 photos)