JON VAN ZYLE

            Art is his life and Alaska, all of Alaska, has been his inspiration.  Artist Jon Van Zyle has seen more of Alaska in a much more unique way than most can ever hope to experience.  Jon has twice completed the 1049 miles of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race between Anchorage and Nome.  From these adventures he has created the yearly Iditarod poster series commemorating the race and his involvement.  In 1979 he was made official Iditarod artist, a title he still holds today.

      His acrylic paintings go beyond the race, though, and encompass so much of Alaska's beauty.  Jon's reputation as a storyteller through his art is further enhanced by his art prints, posters and stone lithographs.  Dog teams, landscapes, wildlife, Alaskan faces from Native to newcomer, portray an intimacy with the land and its people.  He touches on history with studies of Alaskan pioneers and Native traditions and lore recording the Alaskan spirit.  Public acceptance of his shared feeling through his art has been his greatest reward.

      Jon and his wife, Jona, travel extensively, gathering material and experiences for the continuous production of works of art.  The Van Zyles live near Eagle River, just East of Anchorage, where they maintain a dog team of Siberian Huskies.  Both inspirational and functional, the dogs play a large part in Jon's work. Honors include:

• Official Iditarod artist
• Invited artist - National Art Exhibition of Alaskan Wildlife (Audubon Society) 1986 and 1987, and show judge in 1988
• Invited artist - Alaska's Artists, Capital Rotunda, Washington, D.C. 1983
• Invited artist - Frye Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, 1983, 1986, 1989 and 1994
• Official artist - Committee for Cooperation, Commerce and Peace, Alaska-Siberia Friendship Flight 
• Artist of the Year - Milwaukee Sports/Wildlife Show 1991
• Organizer, race judge and official artist - Hope 91, first intercontinental international sled dog race from Nome, Alaska to Anadyr, Chukotka Region, USSR
• Featured artist - Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, Tacoma, Washington, 1990, 1992 and 1997

·         Official artist, International Federation of Sleddog Sports

• Featured artist, "Wild in Nature" exhibit, Netherlands, 1999

      A book of his life and art, "The Best of Alaska, the Art of Jon Van Zyle," was published in 1990 and was reprinted through 1995.  His second book, "Jon Van Zyle's Alaska Sketchbook," was published in 1998.  A third book, "Jon Van Zyle's Iditarod Memories," is scheduled for release in mid- to late 2000.

      Jon's paintings have also illustrated many books, including several award-winning children’s books.  A video was produced of his family life and art career by the Anchorage Public Television station in 1991