Jon was born and raised in Laguna Beach, an early California art colony of Plein Air Painters. He received his Bachelor of Professional Arts at The Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles with a degree in Advertising Design. He then spent 10 years in New York as an advertising art director creating several national campaigns. Jon moved back to California, working in advertising in San Francisco. In 1982 he and his wife, Sandra, established Jon Francis Films. They went on to produce and direct over 1500 television commercials winning several national awards including a Golden Lion from Cannes for the Mill Valley Film Festival campaign. For the last 25 years, he has been busy painting the California landscape, the urban landscape and figurative work. Jon is enjoying playing his bass, performing jazz standards and appearing with a local singer. Jon has exhibited at the Bolinas Museum, Napa Valley Museum, San Luis Obispo Plein Air Painting Festival, Sonoma Plein Air Foundation, Marinscapes, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Laguna Plein Air Invitational, Carmel Art Festival, California Art Club, Los Gatos Plein Air Festival and several galleries. He is represented by Sullivan Goss Gallery in Santa Barbara, Studio Gallery in San Francisco and Robert Allen Fine Art in Sausalito. He has won numerous awards, including Best of Show at Scottsdale Artists’ The Best and the Brightest Show, Artisans' Art Gallery Americana Show and Honorable Mention at the Carmel Plein Air Festival. Jon is a member of the California Art Club, Laguna Plein Air Painters. BayWood Artists and San Anselmo Artist Studios.
