Justin Michael Jenkins
Encyclopedia
Justin Michael Jenkins (born February 23, 1971) is an American
artist
. He is also an author and designer. He achieved college success in athletics for West Virginia University
and became a successful artist at the university. He has worked as an artist and webmaster for Susan Polgar
, former Women's World Chess Champion
and Chess Olympiad
Gold Medalist. He has also designed for many celebrities, most notably Brent Spiner
. His well known chess collection has been published by Frederic Friedel
, and has brought him world wide attention and acclaim.
to George and Carole Jenkins.
In 1979, age 8, he had his first exhibition at Dayspring Gallery in Saratoga Springs and made his first sale of an original lithograph. In 1981, he won first place in the New York State public education art show representing the 4th grade for his stained glass design piece. In 1986, under the direction of artist Robert Green, he finished in the top three at a college exhibition in Canfield Casino. In 1987, he entered the school cross country
team, and in 1988 became the top runner for the New York State Champion Cross Country Team, which won both the Federation and State titles, and was ranked nationally in the top 5.
In 1989, he was accepted into the graphic design and advanced drawing programs of West Virginia University with a grant for art, and a partial scholarship for cross country running and track & field. He studied under professors Ben Freedman and Chris Hockings. He also had a one year apprenticeship with sculptor Noah Savett, working on monumental sculptures.
In late 2004, he launched his business Imaginative Pencil to sell framed art prints of his work and other products. Since the companies inception, the business has generated substantial revenue. A percentage of the proceeds go to Americans for the Arts Action fund and many other charitable organizations.
In 2005, he was approached by West Virginia Public Broadcasting
to produce a logo for their statewide show, Eclectopia
, which has a listening audience of over 15,000.
In 2006, Jenkins was invited by Susan Polgar
(former World Chess Champion and Chess Olympiad Gold Medalist) after reading about his chess collection to be her full time web Designer, web master, and artist. He went on to create the logo for the Susan Polgar Foundation, as well as the cover for the Mayor's Cup Super Chess Tournament — the highest rated round robin tournament in United States history.
Also in 2006 his work was seen by millions on the Coast to Coast AM
radio show after being selected. His Mind Art Collection, which delves into the subconscious and dreams, was a good fit for the show. Jenkins has been a long time student of the mind and dreams.
In August 2007, Jenkins joined the growing league of celebrities who feature on popular online sites like MySpace, under the name of 'ArtistJenkins'. In only two short years, he already has accumulated a fan base of over 12,000.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
. He is also an author and designer. He achieved college success in athletics for West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
and became a successful artist at the university. He has worked as an artist and webmaster for Susan Polgar
Susan Polgar
Susan Polgar is a Hungarian-American chess Grandmaster...
, former Women's World Chess Champion
Women's World Chess Championship
The Women's World Chess Championship is played to determine the women's world champion in chess. Like the World Chess Championship, it is administered by FIDE....
and Chess Olympiad
Chess Olympiad
The Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess tournament in which teams from all over the world compete against each other. The event is organised by FIDE, which selects the host nation.-Birth of the Olympiad:The first Olympiad was unofficial...
Gold Medalist. He has also designed for many celebrities, most notably Brent Spiner
Brent Spiner
Brent Jay Spiner is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the android Lieutenant Commander Data in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and four subsequent films. His portrayal of Data in Star Trek: First Contact and of Dr...
. His well known chess collection has been published by Frederic Friedel
Frederic Friedel
Frederic Alois Friedel, born in 1945, studied Philosophy and Linguistics at the University of Hamburg and in Oxford, graduating with a thesis on speech act theory and moral language...
, and has brought him world wide attention and acclaim.
Life and career
Jenkins was born in Saratoga Springs, New YorkSaratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
to George and Carole Jenkins.
In 1979, age 8, he had his first exhibition at Dayspring Gallery in Saratoga Springs and made his first sale of an original lithograph. In 1981, he won first place in the New York State public education art show representing the 4th grade for his stained glass design piece. In 1986, under the direction of artist Robert Green, he finished in the top three at a college exhibition in Canfield Casino. In 1987, he entered the school cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
team, and in 1988 became the top runner for the New York State Champion Cross Country Team, which won both the Federation and State titles, and was ranked nationally in the top 5.
In 1989, he was accepted into the graphic design and advanced drawing programs of West Virginia University with a grant for art, and a partial scholarship for cross country running and track & field. He studied under professors Ben Freedman and Chris Hockings. He also had a one year apprenticeship with sculptor Noah Savett, working on monumental sculptures.
In 2005, he was approached by West Virginia Public Broadcasting
West Virginia Public Broadcasting
West Virginia Public Broadcasting is the Public Broadcasting Service member Non-commercial educational Public television state network in West Virginia, whose primary station is WPBY, based in Charleston, West Virginia. Its studios are located at 600 Capitol Street...
to produce a logo for their statewide show, Eclectopia
EclecTopia
EclecTopia is the name of a radio show on West Virginia Public Radio which features a wide range of contemporary music. This public radio program has been on the air for eight years and it a part of West Virginia Public Radio....
, which has a listening audience of over 15,000.
In 2006, Jenkins was invited by Susan Polgar
Susan Polgar
Susan Polgar is a Hungarian-American chess Grandmaster...
(former World Chess Champion and Chess Olympiad Gold Medalist) after reading about his chess collection to be her full time web Designer, web master, and artist. He went on to create the logo for the Susan Polgar Foundation, as well as the cover for the Mayor's Cup Super Chess Tournament — the highest rated round robin tournament in United States history.
Also in 2006 his work was seen by millions on the Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
radio show after being selected. His Mind Art Collection, which delves into the subconscious and dreams, was a good fit for the show. Jenkins has been a long time student of the mind and dreams.
In August 2007, Jenkins joined the growing league of celebrities who feature on popular online sites like MySpace, under the name of 'ArtistJenkins'. In only two short years, he already has accumulated a fan base of over 12,000.
Featured stories and publications
- Published on the Chess Database and news site Chess Base A Recent story about the artist's chess collection is Here
- Newspaper write up in the Dominion Post about one man show, Art of the Universe: Experiments with form, color, and composition, at the Benedum Gallery at the Mon Arts Center in Morgantown, West Virginia.
- Front page article in the Dominion Post, "Making a Go of It" where Jenkins talks about his runner up placing for the International Art Expo in New York.
- Front page article in the Dominion Post Marquee section, "Jenkins Wins Award for Website and Art", about his American Association of Webmasters Gold Award for his website design, business, and art.
- Featured article about his business, Imaginative Pencil, which he helped start back in 2004, in the West Virginia BIZ magazine.
- Chess Drawing "The Transmutation of Time, Reflex, and Observation" used on the cover of the book Fisching for Forgeries by Lawrence Totaro
- Exclusive story about book Visionary Landscapes on page C6 (May 2006) of the West Virginia State Journal in the Celebrating the Arts Section.
Books
- Co-author of Visionary Landscapes ISBN 978-1-4116-7843-9. This includes his works, as well as evaluations from scholars, art historians, and curators.
Sources
- ChessBase: Complexity and Beauty in the Game of Chess
- Marquee: Jenkins wins award for Web site
- Front Page Story / Dominion Post Artist Getting Recognition he Deserves ,
- Marquee: Artist to Show, Sell New Work
- Queens Tribune: Young Artist Takes Top Prize at Flushing Artist's Exhibit
- Chess Maniac: The Visionary Chess Art of renowned artist Justin Michael Jenkin
- ArtWanted.com : A Lecture Inspired by Justin
- UFO Magazine / SCIFIPEDIA: The Three Ladies of the Cosmos
- The Transcendental Junction of a Cosmic Grotto
- Sachovy Tydenik EXPLOZE LEVITUJÍCÍHO PĚŠCE
- The Concealed Fate of an Imminent Surrender shown with signatures to be auctioned off with a minimum bid of $1,000 in 2007