Jonker works and exhibits prolifically. He is a regular at the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, where he has exhibited his own work together with other contemporary artists. He has also exhibited throughout the rest of South Africa in galleries and at festivals. From 2004, Jonker embarked on a full-time career as an artist, focusing on oil painting. From here he has established a cohesive body of oil paintings in various genres and has also produced some very fine smaller bronze sculptures. His oil paintings include landscapes, portraits and still lifes. In all of these, the compositions reflect the artist's intuitive choice of subject matter, bringing to life quirky and sometimes idiosyncratic scenes. He is equally at home within the landscape of a human body, or the jovial reflection of light in everyday colloquial objects, or the expanse of a traditional landscape.

In his landscape paintings, Jonker chooses to paint "plein air". The paint-bag always at hand, landscape studies are made on the hoof. From here he is able to transpose natural tone, form and light with assured technique, capturing the soul, spirit and atmosphere of his native land.

 

1971 Born and grew up on a farm in the district of Oudtshoorn, South Africa.

1988 Matriculated from Oudtshoorn High School with a distinction in art.

1991 Received the most promising student award from Foundation Art School, Cape Town.

1993 Graduated with distinctions in painting and sculpture from Technikon Natal, Durban.

1994 While experiencing a decade-long career in the exportation of ostrich products with high-level exposure to international trade, Jonker curated and facilitated annual exhibitions of other artists at the Klein Karoo National Kunstefees.

2001 Returned to practicing art while following a varied career path including versatile exports, film production, and artisan bread making.

2004 Focused on a full-time career in art with oil painting as a central occupation, while maintaining certain social and environmental obligations.

2005 A year of consolidation resulting in a cohesive body of oil paintings in various genres.

2006 “Twee Skilders” exhibition of paintings with Joshua Miles at KKNK; and facilitated an own initiative that explored the art market through a panel discussion of six leading gallerists, curators, and art dealers, also at KKNK Oudtshoorn.

Jonker is married with two children and is a full-time artist.