Van Zyle Siberians – Who’s My Daddy, Tanin and Sorin

Iditarod artist Jon Van Zyle and his wife Jona welcomed the teachers into their kennel, studio and home. Jon creates a print and poster to commemorate each Iditarod. His works are intricate and beautiful. Jon has raced in The Last Great Race and is a member of the Iditarod Hall of Fame for his generous support of the race. Jon and Jona also support the Junior Iditarod. The Van Zyles maintain a kennel of Siberian Huskies. Ever the entertainers, the Siberians pose for pictures and delight guests with their energy and antics.  

Jon and Jona Van Zyle welcomed teachers to their kennel, studio and home.

The 2016 Iditarod Poster was the 40th in the series of posters created by Jon Van Zyle, Official Iditarod Artist. Iditarod fans have coveted Van Zyle’s Iditarod posters ever since 1977. Forty is a monumental milestone to be celebrated by both the artist and the people who enjoy his Iditarod based works.

Jon says, “Iditarod art is but a very small portion of the sixty to seventy original paintings I create every year.” His works, all based on the immeasurable beauty and wonders of Alaska, are displayed in galleries worldwide. In addition to painting, he also illustrates children’s books.  

Painting what he knows, what he’s seen and what he’s felt, allows Jon to capture exquisite details in his Alaska themed art. The great land of Alaska offers innumerable subjects for Van Zyle – scenery, northern lights, fishing, wildlife, birds, flowers and sled dogs, to name only a few.

Van Zyle’s first Iditarod (1976) could be considered a game changer for the subject of his art. He’s always been inspired to paint what he knows. His newly found knowledge of the Iditarod trail and the amazing marathon abilities of the sled dog created the foundation for his Iditarod art. In an essay published in Iditarod the First Ten Years called, Art and Mushing: Two Trails that Converge, Jon writes, “Having run the race twice and been intimately involved with dogs most of my life, my dedication to Iditarod is not a passing fancy. I will continue to be involved, to donate what I can, and to try and impart through my paintings the feelings and the thrills that this involvement (with Iditarod) has brought to me.”

Just prior to the 2016 Iditarod, an autobiography of Van Zyle’s life and career was released. A second book is currently being published. It is written by Jona and encompasses the last 40 years of Iditarod posters plus the last 36 years of Iditarod prints with stories of origin and other information.

The Van Zyles are truly generous and talented people who have given much to Iditarod and race enthusiasts. They embody the spirit of Alaska and culture of Iditarod.