Jon Messer
Jon Messer is an award-winning architectural illustrator and concept artist working in traditional methods such as watercolor, pencil, and pen and ink, as well as 2D digital painting and digital/hybrid painting techniques.
Jon studied fine art and illustration at Otis Parsons and UCLA. He spent eight formative years in the studio of Carlos Diniz, the great American architectural illustrator. Jon’s own studio launched in 1992, providing fine renderings and sketches to international architects, developers, and urban planners. His illustrations have appeared in national ad campaigns and publications world wide. He is also involved in the fine art community as a painter, teacher, and member of the California Art Club. He teaches at California Institute of the Arts, the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, and the Animation Guild.
ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING
Whether the desired technique is traditional or digital, a good view of an architectural project tells a story about design, place, atmosphere, purpose, and pride. A proper illustration draws the eye to the focal point by the effective use of composition, detail, lighting, and color. Since 1984, Jon has been illustrating architecture, site plans, and landscape plans for architects, urban planners, landscape architects, design firms, and real estate developers. He has helped his clients win competitions, secure projects, and gain approval from city councils as well as secure funding for organizations and foundations.
VISUAL DEVELOPMENT FOR FILM AND ANIMATION
A member of IATSE Local 839, Jon brings 30+ years experience to providing architectural design, scale drawings, and digital paintings for pre-production in film, animation and advertising.
ADVERTISING ILLUSTRATION
Jon provides illustration for national and international ad campaigns, working with art directors, photographers, and production designers. An expert in perspective, he has designed production, story-boarded, and created key frame illustrations for television, still photography, and film. His illustrations have appeared in publications and books.
PARTIAL CLIENT LIST
5+ Design, AECom, Arch Diocese of Los Angeles, Behr Browers Architects, Carrier Johnson + Culture, Carter Romanek, City of Hope, CIM Group, Cuningham Group, Disney Imagineering, EDSA, Gensler, Jerde Partnership, Johnson Fain, JWDA, K+R Design, Knott’s Berry Farm, LA Urban Homes, Lee Group, M. David Paul Development, New Urban West, Occidental College, Pica Sullivan, SB Architects, The Trust for Public Land, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine, Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh AIA, Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partners