Jason Behnke currently lives in the forested suburbs of Portland, Oregon. By day he works for Unisys Corporation in Creative Media Services, and by night he enjoys work as artist and illustrator.

Born and raised around Camden, NJ and Philadelphia, PA, he went to Camden County College followed by University of the Arts, then moved to Upstate NY and began his freelance illustration career. His clients included Wizards of the Coast, TSR, AEG, Last Unicorn Games, and White Wolf, as well as numerous commissions. Later he was hired by Avalon Hill Company in MD as Art Director and Lead Artist. He then went into design working in presentation, web, print, animation and multimedia for a financial services company in PA. After about six years he was hired by Unisys and drove across the country to live in Oregon.

His influences include notable UofA professors Mark Tocchet, Ralf Giguere, Bryn Bernard and Al Gury, as well as Yale Professor Emeritus and expert in cognitive thinking, information design and visual communication, Edward Tufte.

During college, a visit to the Frazetta Museum in Stroudsburgh, PA ignited Jason's passionate ambitions to follow his heart into illustration and painting. To this day, the life and works of legendary Frank Frazetta remain as the impetus that sparked Jason's career.

The late Keith Parkinson was another inspiration for Jason, as he enjoyed their conversations around paint, the business, and the creative process. Keith was an extremely laid back and approachable guy for someone as successfull as he was, and he had fantastic insight. It's an honor for Jason to have known him.

Jason is heavily inspired by the Baroque master of chiaroscuro/tenebrism, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, as well as other masters in painting such as Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Rafael, Turner, Da Vinci, and Delacroix.

The Brandywine Legacy is a deep inspiration for Jason, and it is perhaps the lives of Howard Pyle, N.C Wyeth, and Frank Schoonover that has kept Jason painting during even the most turbulent times.

These days Jason enjoys his home in the northwest, quality time and jaunts to the coast with Elizabeth, community and volunteer efforts, art walks, visiting the museum and the zoo, fitness, biking, kayaking, canoing, hiking and chopping wood, and generally being "rugged". He's an active member of SCA, where he can be found camping, fighting, and teaching art history and painting lessons. He's training for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Services. He's a board member of Hillsboro Community Arts, which sponsors great programs like Rise Above, and he's a member of GAG and ASFA. His dream is to earn a place within the Society of Illustrators.

He is currently hard at work rejuvenating his illustration portfolio with all new works.

In Autumn 08 Jason is marrying his muse, Elizabeth.

Visit Phantom Leaves to read select poetry by Jason Behnke. He is an avid fan of Walt Whitman, and Leaves of Grass resides permanently on the night table as well as accompanying Jason on all of his travels.

In memory of Keith Parkinson. Please visit his website and support his work and legacy.