John french
New Mexico Artist Living in Michigan
About the Art
Painting a landscape is like exploring the place I’m painting, and using my knives and brushes to tell everyone what I see.
All paintings are painted either from life or from my own photographs. The locations are places I’ve seen, where the beauty of light and color has captivated me enough to explore the scene with paint.
Traditional Paintings
The beginning stages of my paintings are done alla prima, or wet on wet. These initial layers are applied with brushes and painting knives,then crafted into the scenes you see. After the paint dries, I enhance parts of the artwork with glazes. This process creates tantalizing tidbits of intense color.
Palette Knife Paintings
I strive to make my palette knife paintings bold but clean, so they look great when seen across a large room, AND when viewed from up close. The knife strokes have a nice impasto -the thickness of paint- but are never gloppy. They’re well formed and cohesive, looking great from far and near!
Watercolor
I’ve recently started dabbling in watercolors. More on this later.
Contact
- ArtofJohnFrench.com
- john@artofjohnfrench.com
Exhibits &
Galleries
Representation
Recent Exhibits
January 2019
John French painting “The View” won Best in Show at the Lake Superior Art Association Members’ Show!
December 2017
In December of 2017, John French painting “Holy Hill” was juried into the Cedarburg Art Museum’s “Iconic Wisconsin” exhibit.
2017
Since the summer of 2017, John has participated in and helped organize the “Let’s Paint New Mexico” blog, a digital group show of artists painting New Mexico scenery. A show is planned for November! See the blog here.
In 2013, 2016 and 2017
In 2013, 2016 and 2017, John was juried into the Lake Superior Art Association’s Members’ show. He was awarded the Duane DeLoach First Time Exhibitor Award in 2013.
In 2013, 2016 and 2017
John was juried into the prestigious Art on the Rocks Fine Art Fair, in Marquette, MI.
In August of 2015, 2016 and 2017
John’s art was accepted into the Manzano Mountain Art Council “Years of Enchantment” group show in Mountainair, New Mexico.
In July, 2016
Two John French paintings were juried into the Taos Art Museum’s August Night Gala exhibit and auction, resulting in one sale to a New Mexico collector.
In may, 2016
Many of John’s New Mexico art was accepted into the Manzano Mountain Art Council “Celebrating New Mexico” group show in Mountainair, New Mexico. His art was honored with Best in Show.
In november, 2015, 2016 & 2017
In November of 2015, 2016, and 2017, he was accepted to show and sell at the Marquette Arts and Culture Center Holiday Art Show.
2014
Six original John French paintings were purchased for the permanent collection of the St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, MI.
2009 through 2011
John showed and sold his work at The Outback Art Fair in Marquette, MI.