December 30, 2025
Story by Joe Vinduska
Students at Barton Community College recently had the unique opportunity to observe instructor Phil Jacobson as he completed a commissioned painting, gaining firsthand insight into the techniques of classical and contemporary art.
Jacobson created a triptych entitled “Axis Mundi” for the Damian Michaels Museum Collection in Melbourne, Australia.
Jacobson said the work was completed in the Art Studio on campus so students could benefit from watching the painting develop from start to finish.
“Watching while I am creating a painting using Old Masters techniques is a valuable learning experience for students,” he said. “They gain a firsthand insight into traditional methods such as layered glazing, underpainting, and the careful use of light and shadow—skills that shaped the work of great artists from the Renaissance and Baroque periods to the contemporary Fantastic Realists of today. Observing my process deepens students’ appreciation for craftsmanship, patience, and the technical precision behind classical art, while also inspiring them to apply these timeless methods to their own creative practices.”
Jacobson said the painting “Axis Mundi” reflects a concept in comparative mythology describing a “world axis” that connects higher and lower realms. A concept he explored during summer painting seminars he and his wife Mantra hosted in Delphi, Greece.
“In my interpretation, the axis mundi or world tree represents the human consciousness as a personal, internal 'center of the world' that connects the conscious, subconscious, and spiritual realms,” he said. “This concept portrays consciousness as a bridge between the mundane world and higher or lower spiritual realms, a journey of ascent or descent that can lead to self-discovery and wholeness.”
For more information about the Fine Arts program at Barton Community College, visit art.bartonccc.edu.