Apple Blossoms

Jonathan Stasko is a New York painter based in Schoharie, known for historical figurative paintings, still lifes, plein-air landscapes, and studio landscapes. He earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in commercial art from Pensacola Christian College, training that gave him a strong foundation in drawing, composition, and visual storytelling. His work has been recognized by Southwest Art, which featured him in its “21 Under 31” series as a figurative, still-life, and landscape painter.

A major thread in Stasko’s work is American history, especially the human side of early American and frontier life. Rather than treating history as distant or decorative, he focuses on the people inside it: their choices, hardship, courage, and ordinary moments. His historical paintings often center on specific episodes or figures, while his landscapes and still lifes show the same discipline in structure and atmosphere. Stasko has described his aim as connecting viewers with the humanity of people in the nation’s story, and that idea remains central to the way his paintings are built.

Alongside his historical work, Stasko paints the rural landscapes of Upstate New York, including the Adirondack and Schoharie Valley regions. His paintings have been exhibited in galleries and private collections throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and beyond, and his regional work has been featured in local exhibitions such as Wild and Rural: Art of the Adirondack and Schoharie Valley Regions. Across subjects, his practice is grounded in clear draftsmanship, careful observation, and a commitment to making paintings that feel connected to place, memory, and lived experience.