By Valerie Hardy
Around Downers Grove, Jon Belonio is somewhat of a celebrity, especially among the 12 and under crowd. Wherever he goes in town, Mr. Belonio (as he’s known to his students) is likely to run into a child he has taught in art class at some point during their elementary school years. In fact, when he attended GroveFest with his family one year, he said hello to so many people his wife told him it looked like he was running for office. Even if you don’t recognize Belonio, though, you have probably seen his artwork throughout the community. Read on to learn more about the man behind the murals.
Q: When did you first discover your passion for art?
A: I knew I wanted to be an artist back in kindergarten. I used to watch Looney Tunes and Bugs Bunny cartoons, and I knew somebody was out there drawing these things. I would go up to the TV and try to trace the cartoons really fast. My mom would tell me to get back from the TV. She jokes that that’s why my eyesight is so bad today.
For the past 40 years, I’ve had a sketchbook with me pretty much everywhere I go. My mom was a pharmacist at the University of Chicago, and sometimes – if there wasn’t a babysitter available when she had to work – I’d go with her and just sit with my sketchbook for hours. I never get tired of drawing. Drawing is like breathing to me.
Photo by Carolina Menapace
Q: How did your love of art morph into a career as an artist and art educator?
A: In high school, I excelled in art. I was part of the yearbook staff and newspaper staff. I was going to prove to my parents that cartooning wasn’t just a fun hobby but something I could succeed at. In college, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, they didn’t have a cartooning or illustration degree, so I started as a painting major. My sophomore year I had an epiphany: “What am I going to do with a painting degree?” I switched to an art education major. They had a program where professors’ kids would come in on Saturday mornings, and I got to teach them. It clicked then: I get to hang out with kids and talk about art! I fell into education, but I loved it from the very beginning.
Q: Could you share a bit about your teaching career?
A: I’m in my 23rd year as an art teacher in Downers Grove District 58, my Michael Jordan year, and my 26th year teaching. I started my career in Darien right after college, but my wife started teaching in District 58. An art teacher was leaving the district, and I was encouraged to apply for the position. There was a time in Downers Grove that students either had Mrs. Belonio or Mr. Belonio as their art teacher.
This year, I taught at Whittier, Hillcrest, and Fairmount. In the past, I was at El Sierra, Kingsley, Puffer, and Belle Aire. I love District 58, and because I love it here, I’m just going to go for it with the art curriculum. I created video lessons during the pandemic, and it kind of blew up. Now I use those videos kind of as my aide, like I’m co-teaching with myself. I still do many instructional videos, and now the students are more involved in the production.
Administration has been fully supportive of my work, and I have a great team in the art department in the district. I’ve been fortunate to work in one district for as long as I have. This spring, I was nominated for the district’s Distinguished Service Award, and another nominee, Ashley Honn, I had taught when she was a student at Kingsley. I’ve built great relationships through my time in the district, and I’ve been here long enough where I’m teaching kids of former kids that I taught. I love that!
Q: The way you talk about your teaching career, it sounds like it’s more fun than work for you. Is that the case?
A: Even though my job is teaching students, I don’t see that as work. I spend my days sharing my love of art with kids. It’s my dream job. My father-in-law told me I should be a principal, but I said no. I belong in a classroom with kids, doing art. Period. The end. It’s as simple as that.
Q: You practice what you preach (teach). How do you engage with art outside of the classroom?
A: I’m a freelance artist as well as an art educator. I just try to find the perfect balance of it all. I get four or five art commissions per month. A lot of my commissions are from the Downers Grove community. I also do art shows at various breweries, and I put shows on my Facebook page: Belonio Doodles.
I’m also part of an Arts Alliance. Everyone is really chill. We’re not in it for the sales. I’m not a business-minded person; I’m an artist. I also donate some of my art. For example, I donated some of my work to the Hinsdale Humane Society for their Arf Gallery.
Q: You don’t live in Downers Grove, but many of your designs have been on display around town over the years. What are some ways in which you have adorned the community with your art?
A: Even though I don’t reside in Downers Grove, it is my second home. I love it here. The Tivoli has my first Whittier Variety Show poster design on display in the lobby. I designed the outdoor school signs to Whittier, El Sierra, and Hillcrest and the sign to the Hillcrest playground. I did a mural at Hillcrest School last summer, and I created the CommUNITY design – featuring the mascots of all of the public and private schools in Downers Grove – during the pandemic. Also during the pandemic, I painted rocks and hid them in Downers Grove parks, and Lizz Lukes, another District 58 art teacher, and I added murals to the boarded up businesses in downtown Downers Grove. She was a huge part of organizing that with me. I have a Fair Game mural in their store, and I recently painted the windows at Happy Dog Barkery in honor of Pride Month. Honestly, I have done an insane amount of work for Downers Grove!
Q: You mentioned that your wife, Amy, was an art teacher in District 58. Is your family artistic in general?
A: Amy and I met in college. She was an art education major too. We actually married so early that after we finished student teaching, that Saturday morning was our wedding, and our graduation ceremony was the next day. Once we had our first son, Parker, we were blessed
that Amy was able to stay home with him and our other son, Riley. Amy is still an artist. Her style is more Van Gogh. She’s also the lead singer in a band. We live and breathe art, and the boys have known it their whole life.
Riley (19) is a graphic design major and has been a dancer his whole life. Parker (21) has been a musician his whole life and is studying music composition. He also teaches at School
of Rock in Naperville. It’s come full circle. He now talks about his students to me.
