My art often reflects emotions, issues, and life. Sometimes whimsical, often in a dreamscape environment.
A fantasy and surreal view of life in the beautiful Carolina Lowcountry, often using word-play in my titles to direct the viewer to an obvious, or sometimes, a deeply buried metaphor.
My paintings invoke feelings of peace, romance, humor, and intrigue through augmented reality.
I consider a painting successful when it makes the viewer pause, take a closer look, and then smile.
John's whimsical approach to life uses boats as his metaphor as he takes the viewer on an
emotional and often whimsical journey. With this series he explores a humorous and
surreal approach to expressing emotions. - The Island Packet, Hilton Head Island, SC
John received his classical art training at The Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida.
Graduating in 1973, he enjoys releasing his imagination onto canvas and to the unsuspecting public.
John and his family moved from the northern coast of Lake Erie in the town of Bay Village, Ohio to Hilton Head Island in the summer of 2001.
After experiencing a near-death experience at the age of 49, John renewed his gratefulness and appreciation for life with a renewed enthusiasm in his art; setting out to share his humorous, simple, and slightly skewed outlook on life with others through his paintings, murals, and drawings.
Now painting and drawing inspiration from the beautiful surreal South Carolina Low Country, John's original paintings are displayed in regional galleries, in addition to individual and corporate collections throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa..
show information | the press | etc.
2012:
- Michael Mitchell Gallery - 438 King Street, Charleston - 843.564.0034
- The Gallery in Beaufort - 802 Bay Street, Beaufort, SC - 843.470.9994
- TEAL Gallery - 42 Oak Street, Roswell, GA. - 770.331.5582
- Fine Art America - fine art prints of selected pieces
- Artists2artists.com - Social Network for Artists
2011:
- TEAL Gallery - 42 Oak Street, Roswell, GA. - 770.331.5582
- Michael Mitchell Gallery - 438 King Street, Charleston - 843.564.0034
- The Gallery in Beaufort - 802 Bay Street, Beaufort, SC - 843.470.9994
- Murals - HHI Elementary School - 5 classroom murals
- Art For Charity - Charleston - www.artforcharitysc.com
- Daufuskie Island Art Gallery - Daufuskie Island, SC
- Charleston Center for Women, Auction - City Gallery, Charleston, SC
- "Artist in Residence" - Hilton Head Island Elementary - IB
- Carolina Boaters - official club art (Iron Maiden)
- Charleston Culture
- Artists2artists.com - Resident Curator, Kristen T. Woodward's Art Critique
2010:
- Greenville, SC Art Center - Fall Show: "The Art of the Hunt" - November
- Artists Helping Artists" - Charleston Symphony Orchestra's Benefit Auction
- Michael Mitchell Gallery - 438 King Street, Charleston - 843.564.0034
- The Gallery in Beaufort - 802 Bay Street, Beaufort, SC - 843.470.9994
- Art For Charity - Charleston - www.artforcharityblog.com
- Picture This Gallery - 843.842.5299 - 124 Arrow Road #5, Hilton Head Island, SC
- Four Corners Gallery - 1263 May River Road, Bluffton, SC - 843.757.8185
- Daufuskie Island Art Gallery - Daufuskie Island, SC
- Hilton Head Island Elementary IB - mural
- An Evening of the Arts fine art auction - Island Council for the Arts
- Charleston Culture
2009:
- The Gallery in Beaufort - 802 Bay Street, Beaufort, SC - 843.470.9994
- Four Corners Gallery - 1263 May River Road, Bluffton, SC - 843.757.8185
- Featured artist - "ARTworks" the Arts Council of Beaufort County Gallery, September
- Picture This Gallery - Hilton Head Island, SC - 843.842.5299
- Daufuskie Island Art Gallery - Daufuskie Island, SC
- Adam Whitney Fine Art Gallery - Omaha, NE
2008:
- Featured Artist - Picture This Gallery, Hilton Head Island, SC
- Featured Artist - "The Gallery" contemporary art in Beaufort, SC
- Brewer's of Beaufort, SC paintings displayed throughout the summer.
- Group Show - Summer Dreams - Art League of Hilton Head, July-August
- Group Show - Corridor Gallery, Hilton Head Island Library
- SOLO Show - Art League of Hilton Head Island, SC - April-May
- Juried Show: "Life on the May River" - Coastal Discovery Museum, HHI
2007:
- Featured Artist - Picture This Gallery, Hilton Head Island, SC., December
- Walter Greer Gallery, Hilton Head Island, SC - Art League Member's Show
- Group Show - Corridor Gallery, Hilton Head Island Library
- Group Show - MARS Gallery, Hilton Head Island, SC
- Group Show "Submersive" - The Gallery in Beaufort, SC
- January - "Sailing Among the Clouds" series in Calhoun Street Art Gallery, Bluffton
2005-2006:
- Artist-in-Residence - South Carolina State Parks System, Oconee (The Uplands)
- Alumni Invitational Show - Elder Gallery, Charlotte, NC, "Ringling Comes to Town"
- Invitational Show - Haig Point Resort, Daufuskie Island, SC
- Painted 260' mural inside the Island School for the Creative Arts, Hilton Head Island, SC.
- Participant in "Paint the Town" - The Island Packet & Beaufort Gazette
Press:
- Artists2artists.com Resident Curator Critique - October 2011
- The Island Packet - School Report (mural) - March 2010
- Cover of Hilton Head Art League 2009 brochure - The Island Packet, September 4th "Lowcountry Life" arts & culture
- The Lowcountry Today - "Arts, Culture"
- Hilton Head Monthly, September City Guide - "Galleries" - "Moonlight & Memories" painting
- Hilton Head Monthly Magazine - August issue
- Hilton Head Monthly Magazine - July issue
- Lowcountry Weekly Cover -Volume II Issue 13, "Stardust & Memories"
- WHHI-TV Interview with MC Strong "Lowcountry Life"
- Hilton Head Monthly Magazine - April issue
- Lowcountry Monthly Magazine - April issue
- The Island Packet solo show article - April
- Carolina Arts Magazine - solo show article - March issue
- "PINK" Magazine Cover, February - Hilton Head Island, SC - "Big Love"
- "ARTS NEWS" Cover- Arts Council of Beaufort County - "Waiting for High Tide"
- Hilton Head Today article
- Bluffton Today article
- "Sea Foam" feature article - The Island Packet, 2005
- "Bold Face" article, The Canton Repository, 2004