Jordan’s skills embrace education, art

Many recognize undergraduate advisor Jerry Jordan’s enthusiasm as a recruitment and retention specialist for the School of Education. Fewer know of his prospects as a professional portrait artist. 

Magazines and other clients purchase his work, and UW–Madison’s Multicultural Student Center commissioned a mural from him for their space.

Because Jordan’s artistic endeavors rise above a simple hobby, he considers himself to have a dual career in recruitment and art.

Jordan developed his interest in art during his undergraduate career at UW-Whitewater while studying the great portrait artists of our time. One of these artists, John Singer Sargent, still influences his paintings today. Jordan even hangs one of Sargent’s paintings in his office for inspiration.

Since his undergraduate studies, Jordan continues to paint portraits and sells his work to customers looking to commemorate an anniversary, special occasion, or loved one. The most meaningful painting he has created so far reflects his family values, as he dedicated this piece to several family members. 

“I recently painted a portrait of my grandmother from an old, faded photograph, actually the only one my family had,” he explains. “I did it for my mom and uncles.  Since she passed away when I was young, it was great to paint this and bring it to life for them.”

Jordan also creates still life art in addition to portrait paintings. 

“I am always looking for inspiration…you can find it everywhere,” he says. “I remember this past fall I was walking down Bascom Hill and the setting sun’s light hit the leaves perfectly to cast the most interesting shadows. I just had to get out my camera phone to capture the scene.”

Jordan aspires to be a full-time portrait artist. He came one step closer to this dream after his painting of President Obama was featured on the cover of UMOJA magazine’s February issue. This magazine is a monthly journal of African American people and social justice news published locally in Madison, and an African American artist creates each cover.  

The relationship he developed with the magazine during the past 12 years has given him many opportunities, including creating art for more than a dozen covers.  Jordan’s work on the cover of the March issue featured a portrait of Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, the first woman bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Jordan plans to host his first solo show in August at the Commonwealth Gallery in Madison. The show will feature a couple of his previous works and more than 10 new pieces, including both portrait and still-life paintings.

–By Erica Castriano