Curriculum Vitae

  • J. Quillian's original works are in corporate and private collections in 17 foreign countries and numerous cities across the United States.
  • Accomplishments include: winning an international contest at the United Nations while in high school; commission for a portrait of Rita Hayworth for her daughter, Princess Yasmin aga Kahn and a commemorative commission by England's Dept. of Culture Media; known to the offices of the Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and England; Founder of two new genres of art: biographical portraiture & polyptych historical murals.
  • Quillian has rendered countless portraits among which are such notable clients as ex-patriot, Billie Henson of Singapore, actor Stacy Keach, entrepreneur Marcus Dean, and astronaut Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford.
  • His memberships include The Australian American Association, Chicago Art Coalition, Press Club, The Summit, D-ART-Dallas and New York's Salmagundi Club, National Mural Society, Gilcrease Museum, Philbrook, and the Russian Art Museum.
  • Shortly before the 2000 millennium, Quillian created a new painting genre, biographical portraiture. In this style are expressed the occupational, recreational, general interests and life achievements of subjects portrayed. Critics express the likelihood that Quillian's portraits will be donated to and of interest to museums for their qualities of historic and general interest beyond that of traditional portraiture.
  • J. Quillian's interest in fine art reproduction follows that of the late 19th century impressionists (i.e. Toulouse-Lautrec) whose livelihoods were partially subsidized by creating advertising poster illustrations.
  • Quillian now uses his fine art skill to portray such subjects as patriotism, business, aviation, and sports histories with limited and unlimited edition prints.

 

Biography

J. Quillian was born September 22, 1946 in Las Vegas, New Mexico to aviation pioneer, Ruben Quillian and Nell Mitchell. His infant days were spent in a tiny trailer in Anton Chico, NM; a tiny Santa Fe cottage and a 700 square house in west Texas. A temperamental child, Quillian grew to recollection age in Wink, Texas.

Quillian, called by his second name, Warren, enjoyed adult conversation and grew to dislike children his own age. The first time he was disciplined came as a result of riding on the bumper of family neighbor, Roy Orbison. His acquaintance with the later renowned singer held fond memories for the Quillian.  He remembers listening to Orbison playing his acoustic guitar at the local Day Drug Store.

Quillian’s parents exposed the young aspiring artist to a Roman Catholic priest's religious oil paintings. Quillian was enthralled.  His father also arranged a flight in the post World War II B-29, the Enola Gay, for young Quillian.

After the family's move from Wink to Ardmore to later, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Quillian decided to enter the seminary at the Subiaco Arkansas Benedictine Monastery. But the experience didn’t last long. His antics during the first few months resulted in Quillian being dismissed for bootlegging his own wine creations.

In 1961, Quillian returned home to his beloved mother in the hospital, being treated for a nervous breakdown. The solitude brought him closer to his caring father. The young artist shielded his silent suffering by drawing and painting. He worked at his craft to avoid the pain of his family drawing apart.

Quillian became captivated by his New York native art instructor, Rosemary Kreder. She demanded that he enter a national art contest sponsored by the National Association of Christians and Jews. Quillian's entry, titled “My Brother’s Keeper”, responded well to the contest theme, “Brotherhood Democracy at Work”. He not only was an amateur winner over local and state instructors, he won an international award when his work was exhibited at the United Nations and the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Quillian, once again up to youthful mischievousness, was expelled from his high school, Bishop Kelley, for authoring a protest letter aimed at the school's administration. His father pleaded to the Bishop and was finally able to convince him to give Quillian his high school diploma. Quillian was awarded a correspondence scholarship in art and worked feverishly to complete the three-year program. A rude awakening came in a letter from the U.S. Army asking him to report for a pre-military duty physical. A week prior to the physical, Quillian fell victim to mononucleosis. Some months later, after recuperating, he requested induction into the Coast Guard. Quillian then received a second physical induction notice. When Quillian received the dreaded draft notice, he destroyed the letter in anticipation of receiving the Coast Guard appointment. When the military police appeared at his parent's home, Quillian was barely out of the state on his way to the United States Coast Guard.

And be sure to check out
Fun Facts on J Quillian