Self Portrait
About the artist
Born and raised in Southern California, John took classes in drawing and painting throughout his childhood and then moved on to study at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena majoring in graphic design.
After college, John went to work for a number of design and advertising firms in the Los Angeles area before opening his own creative agency in 1989 winning numerous awards for his work as well as inclusion in the Permanent Collection of the Library of Congress. In 2005 he transitioned from owning a business to teaching at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and went on to head up the advertising program for 14 years. He retired from teaching in 2016 and today spends his time painting, both studio and plein air, on a full time basis. He participates in plein air competitions all over the western states and in various shows put on by the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, California Art Club and Oil Painters of America.
He has been written up in several publications, including Southwest Art Magazine, a nationally recognized art publication.
Over the years he has donated his work to philanthropic organizations such as the Pathways to Independence Auction, Long Beach Museum of Art's biennial auction, and the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House, to name a few.
John is a member of several painting organizations including, Oil Painters of America, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, and the California Art Club.
Exhibitions and Awards:
2023
John’s piece “Belmont Shore Barbershop” was accepted into the Oil Painters of America’s Western Exhibition and will be on display at Brushworks Gallery in Salt Lake City for the month of Oct.
John will be a featured artist on the annual Long Beach Open Studio Tour, Oct. 28-29 from 1-5 pm.
John has once again been selected to have several pieces featured in the Long Beach Museum of Art's "Art Auction XX" https://www.lbma.org/fundraising-events/aaxx/. The event is on Sept. 10 at the museum.
John received an honorable mention award in Teravarna Gallery’s “6th Portrait” art competition, March 2023.
2022
John was juried into the Laguna Plein Air 2022 "LPAPA Squared" juried gallery show in Dec. 2022
John was a featured artist on the annual Long Beach Open Studio Tour, Oct. 2022.
John was juried into the All Media 2022 show at the Irvine Arts Center with one of his paintings. The show runs July-Sept. 2022.
John had three of his paintings juried into the Art Matters show at the Huntington Library in San Marino, March 25-27.
2021
John was a featured artist on the annual Long Beach Open Studio Tour, Oct. 23 and 24.
Selected by the Laguna Plein Air Painter’s Assn. to be included in the “From Dusk to Dawn” Show, Aug. 9- Sept. 30 at the Laguna Beach City Hall.
Juried into the Long Beach Creative Group Show, “Coming Together”, July 10-Aug. 14 at the Rod Briggs Gallery in Long Beach.
John was juried into the Long Beach Museum of Art's "Art Auction XVI" with his piece, “Days Gone By, Long Beach CA” which sold at the event, June 2021.
2020
John was juried into Oil Painters of America’s 2020 Western Regional Juried Online Exhibition held from Aug. 1- Sept. 12 at Illume Gallery of Fine Art in St. George, UT. His piece “Just Another Morning in Florence” was featured at the exhibit.
John was honored to be chosen as the “Artist of the Month” in July 2020 by the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association.
John has had two of his paintings juried into the Art Matters show at the Huntington Library in San Marino, March 28
2019
John was accepted into “The Winter Show” at the Palos Verdes Art Center, Dec. 6, 2019-Jan. 17, 2020.
John has been selected as one of the artists to be featured in the Oil Painters of America Western Regional Show being held at the Sorrel Sky Gallery in Santa Fe, NM from Nov. 1-30.
John was a featured artist on the annual Long Beach Open Studio Tour, Oct. 26.
John was juried into California Art Club’s “Autumn Impressions” show at Muckenthaler Cultural Center, August 17-Oct. 13.
John was juried into the Laguna Plein Air “Less Is More” Show at Forest and Ocean Gallery, Laguna Beach July 8-22.
The Lake House Gallery in Lake Arrowhead, featured John at their "First Friday" event on Friday, July 5.
John was selected as a participant in the Long Beach Museum of Art's "Art Auction XVI", May 4, 2019 with his piece, "Long Beach Nightlife”.
John had a One Man Show, April 28 at his studio in Long Beach from 12-4 pm
2018
John has been accepted into “The Winter Show” at the Palos Verdes Art Center, Dec. 7, 2018-Jan. 2, 2019
John has been awarded an Honorable Mention in Southwest Art Magazine’s 2018 Artistic Excellence Competition with his painting “A Gathering of Color” and had a feature article in the December issue.
John has had his work, “Notre Dame”, selected as part of the FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the Oct. 2018 BoldBrush Painting competition
John was a featured artist on the annual Long Beach Open Studio Tour, Oct. 20-21 and 27-28
John has been juried into the annual La Jolla Art & Wine Festival, Oct. 6-7
John has been accepted into the annual Costa Mesa ARTventure event Oct. 5-6
John hosted a workshop in his studio Aug. 24 for the Southern CA Plein Air Painter’s Assn. members.
John has had his work, “Monet’s Colorwheel”, selected as part of the FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the August 2018 BoldBrush Painting competition.
John had a full length feature article about him and his work in The Mountain News June 2018.
The Lake House Gallery in Lake Arrowhead, featured John at their "First Friday" event on Friday, June 1st.
John has had his work, A Gathering of Color, selected by the jurors for NOAPS Spring International Online Exhibition. This painting will be viewable in the online exhibit on www.noaps.org.
John has had his work, A Gathering of Color, selected as part of the FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the March 2018 BoldBrush Painting competition.
John has had two of his paintings juried into the Art Matters show at the Huntington Library in San Marino, May 4-6
John had three of his paintings juried into the Dec/Jan Plein Air Salon sponsored by Plein Air Magazine.
2017
John's painting "Good Times at Starling" was selected in the favorite 15% of entries in the Dec. Boldbrush Painting Competition
One Man Show, Starling Diner, Long Beach, CA, Dec 2017
Juried into the annual Palos Verdes Holiday Art Show, Dec. 2017
Juried into the annual 6x6 Randy Higbee Show, Dec 2017-Jan 2018, Costa Mesa, CA
John has been juried into the 3rd annual ARTventure event in Costa Mesa, CA, Nov. 10-11
John's painting "Yellowstone Rush" was selected as the jury's favorite 15% of entries in the Oct. Boldbrush Painting Competition
John was on the Long Beach Open Studio Tour the weekend of Oct. 14-15.
John's painting, "Pride" was selected as the jury's favorite 15% of entries in the August Boldbrush Painting competition.
Juried into the Summer Salon at Saga Fine Art, Monrovia, CA, July 18-Aug. 31
"Sunday in Laguna" and "Koi Ballet" were both selected as part of the FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the May 2017 BoldBrush Painting competition.
Juried into the semi-annual Beverly Hills Art Show, the weekend of May 20-21.
Selected as a participant in the Long Beach Museum of Art's "Art Auction XVI", May 7, 2017 with his piece, "Hot Tin Roof" which sold at the event.
John was the featured artist/guest speaker at the Long Beach Yacht Club Ladies Day April 13.
"Egg Heaven" selected as one of the top 15% of all entries by juror in the March Boldbrush Painting Competition.
2016
John was juried into the annual 6x6 Randy Higbee Show, Dec 2016-Jan 2017, Costa Mesa, CA
John was juried into the Holiday Small Works Show at Saga Fine Art, Dec. 2016, Monrovia, CA
John was juried into the SOCALPAPA "Painting the Light" exhibit Nov. 5-19, Newport Beach, CA
John was a participating artist on the Long Beach Open Studio Tour, Oct. 8-9, 2016
John was juried into the "Waterworks 2016" show at the Watertower Gallery in Mendocino, CA, July 1-31
John was a featured artist in the "Follow the Sun" show at the Crystal Cove State Park, July 30-31.
John was a featured artist in the Crystal Cove Alliance Art Store April-June 2016, Crystal Cove, CA
John was a participating Artist in the March 18-20 “Reflections” Show at Crystal Cove State Park Gallery.
John was juried into the “Romance of the Landscape” Show at Forest and Ocean Gallery, Laguna Beach Feb. 1-March 7.
2015
John was a participating artist in the Long Beach Open Studio Tour, Oct. 10-11, 2015
John was commissioned to paint two paintings, one10 ft. x 3 ft and the second at 6 ft. x 30" for the newly remodeled Acute Care Center at Scripps Encinitas Hospital, September 2015
John was a participating artist in the Crystal Cove Show, "Fun in the Sun", July 10-12, Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach, CA
John was a featured Artist in the Crystal Cove Store, Laguna Beach, CA, July-Sept. 2015
John was juried into “Coast to Coast” show by Laguna PAPA held at Forest Ocean Gallery June 23-July13
John was juried into “California Impressionism – Plein Air Painting Past & Present”, Huntington Beach Art Center from May 1-July 4 in conjunction with Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and the Irvine Museum.
John was juried into the "Celebrate San Diego" show at the La Jolla Art Assn. Gallery, June 14-28
John was selected as a participant in the Long Beach Museum of Art’s “Art Auction XVI”, May 31, 2015.
John was selected as a participant in "Painting the Light: Here,There and Everywhere" at Randy Higbee Gallery May 16-23.
John was selected as a participating artist in the Crystal Cove “In Bloom” art show, March 14-15
John was featured in an article in the Catalina Island Yacht Club quarterly newsletter, “View from the Deck”, Jan/Feb, 2015.
John was elected as Artist of the Month on the Laguna Plein Air Painter's Assn. Website January 2015.
2014
John was selected as a winning artist for the Fall 2014 International Online Exhibit for the National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society
John was selected to participate in the annual 6x6 Show at Randy Higbee Gallery, Dec. 2014. Five of five pieces entered were chosen and one was awarded a cash prize out of only 22 prizes given out of 650 paintings.
John had a One Man Show, Naples, CA, September 2014
John was a participating artist in the "Spot of Color" Show at Crystal Cove State Park July 18-20. My painting, "Finding a Spot" was featured on the front of the invitation and sold at the event.
Selected as an artist in the 11th Annual Telluride Plein Air event, Telluride, CO, June 2014
Selected as an artist in Los Gatos Plein Air 2013, June 2014
Featured artist in an article on plein air painters in the June issue of Southwest Art Magazine
Featured Artist in the Crystal Cove Store, Laguna Beach, CA January-March 2014
2013
December 2013. Juried into "Home", an art show benefiting Iraq and Afghanistan Soldiers (IAVA) and Malaga Cove Library
October-December 2013, Featured Artist at the Crystal Cove Art Store, Crysal Cove, CA
October 12-13, Featured Artist at the Annual La Jolla Art and Wine Festival, La Jolla, CA
Sept. Honorable Mention in the American Icon 2013 Competition, sponsored by the Sausailito Art Festival
One Man Show, Naples, CA, July 2013
Featured in "Outdoor Painter" June, 2013
Selected as an artist in the 10th Annual Telluride Plein Air event, Telluride, CO, June 2013
Selected as an artist in Los Gatos Plein Air 2013, June 2013
Participating in the 15th Annual Art Auction to benefit the Long Beach Museum of Art, May 2013
Selected as an artist in the annual Laguna Plein Air Painters Assn. "Less is More" Show, May 2013
Participated in the "Springtime Magic" show in Crystal Cove, CA, March 15-16.
2012
Selected as an artist in the annual Wells Fargo "Banking on Art" Show, Laguna Beach, Dec. 2012
Selected as an artist in the Crystal Cove Alliance Store in Newport Beach in 2013
Selected as an artist in the California Art Club's "California Heritage" exhibit, Oct. 2012
Selected as an artist in the 9th Annual Telluride Plein Air event, Telluride, CO, June 2012
Selected as an artist in Los Gatos Plein Air 2012, June 2012
Juried into the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association "Best of Plein Air" Show, June 2012
Selected as an artist in the 19th Annual Carmel Art Festival, Carmel, CA , May 2012
Juried into the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, "Less Is More" Show, April 2012
Selected as "Artist of the Month" on the Laguna Plein Air Painter's Assn. website, March 2012
Selected to participate in the 30th Annual La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA, March 2012
Juried into California Art Club's "Iconic California" Show, Altadena Country Club, January-May 2012
2011
Second Place Award in the SOCALPAPA "Small is Beautiful" Show, Newport Beach. December, 2011
Juried into the annual La Jolla Art and Wine Festival, October 2011
Awarded "Best Coastal Scene" in the City of San Clemente's City Plan Art Competition, September 2011
2010
Juried into California Art Club's "Magnificent Miniatures" Show, Pasadena, CA, December 2010
First Place Award in the SOCALPAPA Plein Air "Aquatics Show", Newport Beach, CA, November 2010
First Place Artist Choice Award in the Ninth Annual Idyllwild Plein Air Festival, June 2010
Long Beach Museum of Art selects "On the Mend" for special exhibit entitled, "Artists Explore Long Beach", Summer 2010
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts selects and sells at auction "Mailboxes etc" piece, February 2010
2009
Dual Exhibition C.C. Gallagher Gallery, Avalon Catalina, CA , June-August 2009
2008
First Place Award in the Catalina Island 50th Festival of the Arts Exhibition, September 2008
One Man Show, Long Beach Yacht Club, Long Beach CA, July 2008
2007
One Man Show, Naples Long Beach, CA, July 2007
Memberships:
California Art Club (CAC)
Laguna Plein Air Painter's Association (LPAPA)
Oil Painters of America (OPA)
Southern California Plein Air Painter's Association (SOCALPAPA)