"I'm passionate about the old masters and have spent many wonderful periods alternating museum study with landscape painting, especially in Europe," he says.
His subjects, "aesthetic attitudes, techniques and motivations are largely mainstream traditional," he adds. "I love the natural world and situations in which humankind and nature have achieved a harmonious balance."
That seems logical since he was born and reared in the northwest, subject to crashing sea waves and dizzying mountain peaks flanked with emerald green forests. Born in Camas, Washington, he grew up and attended public schools in Springfield, Oregon. He earned his bachelor of arts in painting and drawing from the
University of Oregon in 1963 and his master's in painting from the University of Iowa in 1967.
He was an art instructor for Mt Angel College, Portland State University, Portland Community College, Mt. Hood Community College, but spent most of his teaching career (1970-1996) at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City.
Many days will find him taking his canvass and sketch pad to Northwest locales usually frequented by hardy hikers.
"My best and most effective paintings are done directly from life; on beaches and trails, sometimes in the company of fellow painters seeking similar rewards," he says.
One of his seascapes bears witness to the test he puts before himself by painting in situ. Touch the thick oils on the canvass, and you feel the grit of the fine sand which swirled around his easel as he worked, becoming part of the scene by embedding itself in the rich colors.
While he likes working at the scene, "often as not, I'm found peering through rain and darkness from tiny hotel rooms or from under railroad bridges. In my studio I often elaborate on my outdoor paintings, combining various elements from them and from my imagination in order to create larger canvasses."
And big they are. A sampling recently at the Carnegie Art Center range from 30 by 40 inches, to the smallest at 14 by 11 inches.
"I'm sometimes asked to paint smaller pictures on
commission, but I find it hard to do," he admits.
John is represented by the Carnegie Art Center, Portland Art Museum Rental/Sales Gallery, and Yoshida's Fine Art Gallery in Portland. His paintings are part of several collections:
National School Board Association, Washington, D.C.; City of Oregon City (mural); Oregon School Board Association, Salem; Murdoch Charitable Trust; University of Oregon (mural); Mt. Hood Community College; Clackamas Community College.
He has participated in 19 solo shows between 1964 and
the present, as well as 16 group shows.
Current works offered:
Backyard With Quince and Poplars 30x40 framed $3,200
Backyard With Gate 24x36 framed $1,400
February Morning 40x30 framed $2,300
Crown Point With Sunset and Moonrise 30x40 framed $3,400
Beach Near Cape Means in Fog 24x36 framed $2,200
Landscape from Studio Window 30x40 framed $3,000
Cape Means 18x24 framed $1,500
Elephant Rock--Bandon 22x28 framed $2,300
Eagle Creek Below Punchbowl 28x22 framed $1,700
Painters at Bandon 22x28 framed $1,700
Trail Below Coalea Rock, Willamette River 24x18 framed $1,200
Painters at Sauvie Island 30x20 framed $1,400
The Good Life 30x40 framed $3,200
Seated Figure (drawing) 14x11 framed $110
Crater Lake Tour Boats, Cleetwood Trail 20x30 framed $3,200
Waukeena Falls 36x24 framed $2,500
Beach Near Cape Means, Oregon
24 x 36 oil framed
$2,200
Trail Below Coalea Rock
24x18 oil framed
$1,200
Elephant Rock at
Bandon, Oregon
24x36 oil framed
$2,300
Crater Lake Tour
Boats,
Cleetwood Trail
20x30 oil framed
$3,200