"I like his art because it's not always about big, sweeping vistas and dramatic views - it's more about the colours and lighting and essence of just about any random spot in the middle of the bush. Sometimes - especially with his larger pieces - it's easy to imagine that you're standing right there, in the spot the he painted.- Michael Pealow
John painting at Yukon Artists @ Work gallery, circa 2007. Photo by Mark Prins, Inanda Photography
Born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on a diet of science fiction, comic books and dime-novel paperback cover art, John set his sights high, trying to emulate Jim Steranko and Will Eisner, Richard Corben, Barry Smith and Frank Frazetta.
He played around with the airbrush in his teens, and after university picked up watercolours until his 40s. In 2002 began working in acrylics, enjoying the freedom of a medium where you could go large, and mistakes could be painted over.
John fell in love with the Group of Seven long ago, but he still drools over pulp magazine covers from the 1930s, classic advertising illustration, and vintage travel posters.
John at Art Battle Yukon, May 2014. Photo Tyler Kuhn, Al-Kehmedia Studios
John is known primarily as a landscape artist, working en plein air, or in nature, and his ability to capture the essences of shapes in the forests of BC and Yukon.
John has produced numerous solo shows and participated in many group shows through the years. He enjoys interacting with the public while working, and has been invited to the the Yukon Plein Air Festival, Paint the Trails, and Music Yukon's Arts in the Park. He was Yukon's representative in the national Art Battle in July 2014.
He has been Artist in Residence at the Tombstone Park, Yukon and taught classes and held workshops at the Riverside Arts Festival in Dawson City, Yukon, among others. He was a member of Yukon Artists @ Work from 2005-2015and the Yukon Arts Society from 2006-2015. In 2016 he was a member of the Canadian Federation of Artists, and is currently a member of the Slocan Valley Arts Council.
In the fall of 2015 he moved to the Kootenays in southern BC with wife and family. There he has continued to create new works and participating in group and solo exhibitions.
Exhibition History
Galleries
Selkirk Community Gallery, 1991-1995
Yukon Artists @ Work, Whitehorse 2005-2015
Arts Underground, Whitehorse 2007-2015
North End Gallery, Whitehorse 2014-2015
Merv Robertson Gallery, Crawford Bay, BC 2015-
Deadwood Junction Gallery, Greenwood, BC 2015-
Rossland Art Gallery, Rossland BC 2016
Valley Vittles, Slocan Park, BC 2017
ACTIVITIES
Active Member status, Canadian Federation of Artists; member, West Kootenay Chapter, FCA, 2016-18
Member, Slocan Arts Council, 2016-2020
Co-ordinator, Edge of Reality: Beyond the Edge group show, Arts Underground, August-September 2015
Board member (in charge of arts programming) Yukomicon, August 2014
Co-ordinator, Edge of Reality group show, Arts Underground, August-September 2014
Finalist, Yukon representative, National Art Battle, July 2014
Organizer/participant, Yukon Plein Air Festival, July 6-8, 2014
Board Member, Yukon Artists @ Work Co-op Gallery, 2008-2010
Workshop facilitator, plein air painting, Riverside Arts Festival, Dawson City, YT, August 2011
Board member, Selkirk Art Centre, 1992-94
Best New Talent, Northern Juried Arts Show, 1988
Shows and Exhibitions
2023
Nottawa General Gallery, Collingwood, Ont.
2019
Mama Cita's Cafe, Winlaw, BC
2018
Studio Connextions, Nakusp, Summer Artist Series
2018
Solo show, Frog Peak Cafe, Crescent Valley, BC
2016
Culture Tour- Crescent Valley Hall
I'm a Stranger Here, solo show, Art Walk, Nelson, BC Summer 2016
2015
Booth displaying pulp fiction artwork, Yukomicon, August
2014
Solo Show, The Last Minute, Hilltop Bistro, Yukon College, Whitehorse, Oct-Dec. 2014
Demonstrating artist, Art on the Wharf, August 22-23
Demonstrating Artist, Arts Up Front, July 16-18
Demonstrating Artist, Arts Underground, July 7-11
Demonstrating artist, Arts in the Park, June 23-27
2013
Group Show, Connections: the land, the artists, YAAW Gallery, September
Group Show, Painting the Dunes, YAAW Gallery, September
Solo Show, Big and Small, YAAW Gallery, Whitehorse, YT June
Demonstrating artist, Paint the Trails, Whitehorse, YT, August
Demonstrating artist, Art on the Wharf, Whitehorse, YT, July
Demonstrating artist, Arts in the Park, Whitehorse, YT, June
Earlier Shows
September 2012 Calendar Show, Hilltop Bistro, Yukon College, Whitehorse, YT
June 2012 Group Show, Yukon Plein Air Festival, Whitehorse YT
October 2011 Fleeting Colours, YAAW Gallery, Whitehorse, YT
May 2010 Northwest Revisited, Arts Underground Gallery, Whitehorse, YT
May 2008 The Entire City, YAAW Gallery, Whitehorse, YT
May 2007 More Lots for Sale, Zola’s Cafe, Whitehorse, YT
April 2006 Leaves and |Light, Cranberry Bistro, Whitehorse, YT
September 2004 Lots for Sale, Midnight Sun Roasters, Whitehorse, YT