Meet Jonathan Applegate | Artist & Innovator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jonathan Applegate and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonathan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
At the beginning of our partnership we didn’t have a clear idea leading us toward starting a business. Instead we were focused on understanding more about the art that has already been created so we would have a better gauge to determine if the oneLINE is truly unique. Spoiler alert – it is. We visited so many of the world’s best museums. We were in New York City several times dissecting The Met and MOMA. We were able to visit de Young in San Fran and The Art Institute in Chicago. Paris, Berlin and Tel Aviv were the international destinations we visited together, and Kim has travelled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. From the Museo de Orsay to the Denver Art Museum we never saw anything that approached the oneLINE. Sure we saw some single line art, but none of the pieces had the unique distinction of the line never crossing, touching or intersecting.

Our next stop was the international art licensing conference to see if there was a path that could bridge both commercial application of the oneLINE as well as the fine art aspect of the unique style. We participated in the “Licensing University” to better get a handle on how we would commercialize our idea. We discovered how special our brand could become; the “Hello Kitty of oneLINES”.
We were now confident we had an idea that could pass “the sniff test” so we began the adventure of building an art business focused on a single style from artist Jonathan Applegate. Future Drawn, LLC was born.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It is interesting how the human experience inevitably leads to “you don’t know what you don’t know”. With the oneLINE, it was difficult to recognize as an artist that my style was unique. I have the ability to hold an image in my mind while at the same time draw a contour line of the image that does not cross, intersect or go back upon itself. This has allowed me to develop the oneLINE style, which I believe is a challenge to the current human ability to perceive from an evolutionary perspective. Art is an expression of the human experience, and it is an exercise to explain the physical, mental and spiritual world. The oneLINE challenges perception within this parameter. When experiencing my oneLINE art, the mind of the observer is forced to create a 3D image from a clearly 2D drawing. Through my exploration of existing art, it occurred to Kim and myself that the human mind may not have been able to perceive 3D during the time prior to the renaissance. The art prior to this time is flat.

Therefore the question Future Drawn is posing is this; was there an evolution within the human mind that is allowing appreciation of a new art style to come into its own? Realism, Impressionism and Abstract movements within the art world have directly explored these questions. We believe the oneLINE is an evolution.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am partial to my neighborhood on Tennyson Street between 38th and 46th Avenues. It is an interesting area with a wide variety of activities, restaurants and businesses. All along Tennyson Street between 38th and 46th there are hotels, restaurants, galleries, boutiques, and breweries. First of all I would recommend all my friends stay at the Asher Hotel where guests can experience the oneLINE art of Union Station in the lobby and local landmarks along the hallway of the hotel. Future Drawn has created a unique walking tour of local landmarks for visitors to enjoy within walking distance of the Future Drawn oneLINE Gallery.

Additionally, we have a 1000 Sqft mural where the oneLINE is 1.17 MILES long- and it is in the alley off Tennyson & 41st Ave behind 4144 Tennyson Street. We have also created “Art for the Blind” which can be seen in the alley behind Ohana Yoga Studio. Tennyson Street has become a living example of how the oneLINE can be applied to personal and public projects.

We must also recommend Hops & Pie as one of the best places to enjoy a good pizza or sandwich with a craft brew. We also want to send a shout out to our fellow gallery owners on the street. Westward Gallery and Lapis Gallery are great partners promoting the arts in NW Denver. Emporium Brewery is alway a great respite to regroup for the workweek ahead, and Mouthfuls keeps our pup Hazel well fed.

The proximity of the oneLINE gallery at 4420 Tennyson Street to downtown Denver makes it an easy destination among many. Come experience the oneLINE, and explore Denver from here,

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We have so many people to thank for our success. First, and most importantly are our friends and family. Without the encouragement to keep going during those moments of doubt every founder experiences, we would not be were we are without them. From a business perspective, we are eternally grateful to the support we initially received from the Denver Chamber of Commerce. They participated in our official ribbon cutting ceremony in August 2018. We have also been active members of our local Tennyson Berkeley Business Association since 2016, and it is such a joy to be part of an active local group focused on making the neighborhood both fun for visiting and living. The support for our First Friday efforts is immeasurable, and it felt by both visitors and local alike.

Lastly, and most importantly, we need to thank our community of supporters. The Tennyson Business District is very diverse and represents the Best of Denver with respect to how it has blended “new” with “old”. Yes, we have a street lined with row houses, but we also have a street line with a legacy businesses. It is a district vibrant with diversity, openness and life. We love being part of the community!

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