John Reddick
Worship pastor and songwriter, Jon Reddick, has a heart for the church and the songs that pour out from congregations into the world. Throughout his writing career he’s intentionally composed lyrics that speak about redemption and hope in a way that impacts cross cultural narratives of a generation hungry for healing.
Jon Reddick is an up-and-coming artist specializing in oil on canvas paintings. In his own words, his work is “inspired by the music that moves him.” Jon has spent the majority of his career pursuing his other gift, the gift of music. Jon feels that the two gifts, music and painting, go hand in hand for him, each helping the other come into focus and come to life.
Any one of Jon’s paintings reverberates with the rhythms of his unique style and incredibly artistry. His work is multilayered both literally with a variety of textures, colors and shapes as well as metaphorically.
Born in Durham, North Carolina, but raised in Memphis, Tennessee, home of the Blues, Reddick grew up under the influence of a musical family. His father, current Senior Bishop of the CME church, was a preacher and his mother, now a Grammy nominated song writer and piano teacher, played the keyboard in a band and lead worship at church.
The Gospel greats such as Milton Brunson, O’landa Draper, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin and John P. Kee along with Jazz greats Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut all have shaped the art and music of Reddick.
However, Reddick always struggled with the internal conversations in his head that plagued him with notions that his work was never good enough. His discouragement led him to put sketching and painting down, and focus on the gift of music. For Reddick music came more fluidly and naturally, where painting required greater concentration and focus.
Now, Reddick uses music to set the mood of his paintings. Music gets him excited about the direction he’s going with each piece and can be evidenced in the final works of art.
Reddick enjoys the beautiful marriage of music and art. He’s picked the paintbrush back up, while continuing his career in music, doing session work and traveling with various artists on tour.
