Art of John French

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  • On Exhibit at The Gallery Marquette: Out and About with John French

    On Exhibit at The Gallery Marquette: Out and About with John French

    Starting next week, my work featuring Upper Peninsula scenery will be on exhibit at The Gallery Marquette‘s Sarosik rotating Gallery.

    When I’m out and about, I’m moving through the endless and fascinating inspiration of the world around me. I take a lot of pics, and some of those pics become some of my favorite paintings.

    I’ll be the guest artist in the Sarosik Rotation Gallery within The Gallery starting June 2nd through July 6th.

    A demo and Artist Reception will be Friday, June 27th from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. during Marquette’s Artweek!

    The Judy Sarosik Rotating Gallery was established in memory of our dear friend and fellow artist, Judy Sarosik. Judy’s origami creations lit up our gallery, as Judy herself illuminated our lives.

    The Gallery Marquette was organized in November of 2018 as a way to support the arts in our community.

    Visit The Gallery Marquette at 130 W. Washington Ave, Marquette, MI 49855

  • My Art Talk and Demo with LSAA

    My Art Talk and Demo with LSAA

    photo courtesy of Michele Tuccini

    On October 15th, 2024 I was joined by 35 fellow artists, friends, and art lovers for an evening chat as I demonstrated how I paint in oils. These were my techniques for painting water, rocks, and foliage of the Lake Superior landscape.

    This was part of the Lake Superior Art Association’s series of art programming.

    While I painted, I discussed the materials I use, and the methods I’ve learned and developed. I reflected on my sources of inspiration and love of the Lake Superior Region, touching on the geography and history of the region. The audience seemed especially impressed with my “shortcut” for painting a rock beach.

    Two weeks before the presentation, I had finished the underpainting for this painting. This way I didn’t waste valuable time on the early processes of developing this painting. Instead, I made a video of the underpainting process.

    Reference Photo
    photo courtesy of Julie Highlen
    photo courtesy of Michele Tuccini

    Right: The finished painting: “Sun Streaked Cove”
    Click here or on the photo to see the product page!

    There was absolutely no time to finish this painting in one presentation, so I finished it in my studio.

    Someday, I’d like to do a class or demo over the course of four of five days!

    I would like to thank the LSAA, its board members, and especially the wonderful people who turned out for this art talk!

    For anyone interested, below are the notes I used for the presentation, with clarifications.

    Art Talk Notes, October 15th

    1. Introduction
      1. About me
      2. Education & experience [self guided, some college]
    1. Subject matter,
      1. reference photo (see above)
      2. Underpainting (see video)
      3. Colors for underpainting, (mostly Blue Ridge Oil Colors, some Gamblin)
        1. Thalo blue red shade (PB15:1)
        2. Yellow Ochre (PY42)
        3. Permanent crimson (PR 264 + PB 29 + PV 19)
          1. Alizarin Crimson, PR83 is fugitive)
        4. Hanza Yellow or Cad yellow light HUE (PY74)
        5. Titanium White
    1. Materials
      1. Canvas
      2. Paint
        1. Brands (mostly Blue Ridge Oil Colors, some Gamblin)
        2. Pigments ( when switching brands of paint, pay attention to the pigments. different companies may use different pigments for the same color, which will affect mixing)
      3. Brushes
      4. Solvents (I use odorless mineral spirits. Odorless doesn’t mean ‘fumeless’. You still need ventilation)
    1. Sky
      1. Ultramarine blue
      2. Thalo blue green shade(PB15:3, close to Cyan)
    1. Painting the Lake (dark color for the wave peaks. Lighter sky color for the valleys)
    1. Black Rocks
      1. Geology
        1. Peridotite, intrusive magma
        2. 1.4 billion years old (see Alexis Dahl YouTube)
    1. Lake Superior
      1. Basic formation (mid cont rift, glacial gouging)
    1. Painting the foliage
      1. Your Greens are probably too green! (greens need to be neutralized a little with some red, otherwise they’re too bright)
      2. Varying brushes and strokes (using the same brush to make your foliage will look amateurish, unnatural, and cheap)
    1. Painting the rock beach
      1. Shadows (Out line the shapes of several rocks, heaviest in the part away from the sun)
      2. Midlights (a random mix of ultramarine blue with crimson and/or yellow ochre, lighter in value than the shadows)
      3. Blend the shadows and mids
      4. highlights
    1. A word about Lichens
      1.  Symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, an algae and one or more fungi. The algae cells are enveloped with in fungus cells. Algae cannot survive out of water without the fungus to protect it. The fungus cannot survive on a rock, etc. without the algae feeding it through photosynthesis!
  • Some Mackinac Island & John French News

    Some Mackinac Island & John French News

    Hey There!

    If you’re an artist, you may be interested in this bit of news.

    You may recall that in June 2023 I visited Mackinac Island for the Lilac Festival and Poster Contest. While on the Island, surrounded by view after view of inspiration, I took a lot of photos to use for future paintings.

    Here are my first two paintings I created after the little trip to Mackinac Island; “Peddling Up Huron Steet” and “Making Deliveries”

    Later, my fellow artist and friend Kendra Nelson visited Mackinac. She visited some galleries (which I didn’t have time to do) and name-dropped me in one. Kendra encouraged me to contact The Pointe of View Gallery.

    So I got ahold of the gallery owner, Jennifer Callewaert, and sent her pics of my two Island paintings, and she loved them! She agreed to show them for the last couple of months of the tourist season.

    Well, they both sold by the end of the season! Jennifer told me  “Peddling…went to a longtime island family and has a good home. The Market Street painting went to a cute Ohio couple.” Wow!

    I spent some of my cold Michigan winter painting warm Mackinac Island pictures to send to Pointe of View for the 2024 season. See them all here!

  • Back to the Mack! The 2024 Lilac Festival Poster Contest

    Back to the Mack! The 2024 Lilac Festival Poster Contest

    I once again entered the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival Poster Contest.

    I’m happy to say that my painting made the Top 20 again!!

    The Top 20 finalists will be on display at the Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island during the Lilac Festival, where they’ll be seen by thousands of people.

    This contest is put on by Mackinac Island Tourism as a part of the 2024 Annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival , starting on June 7th, 2024. The Top 20 entries were selected by the Mackinac Arts Council.

    There will also be a People’s Choice prize, here the public votes for their favorite entry.

    Plus, finalists are awarded complimentary ferry tickets to the Island so they can attend the reception on June 7th. There, the winning poster will be announced in the Father Marquette Park under the looming Fort Mackinac.

    While on the Island, I’ll get to meet Jennifer S. Callewaert, the owner and operator of Pointe of View Gallery, who has agreed to show my work for the 2024 season.

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  • Updated with More Photos! Art of John French & Noquemenon Trails joint project

    Updated with More Photos! Art of John French & Noquemenon Trails joint project

    Donor Appreciation Wall in the Forestville Chalet for the NTN Trail Love Capitol Campaign.

    A celebration the official unveiling of the Noquemenon Trail Network’s Donor Appreciation wall was held on February 22nd, 2024. The evening saw a good crowd of, excited, passionate trail-lovers of all ages.

    Back in mid-2022, I started working on a big project with the Noquemenon Trail Network (NTN), thanks to an connection made by my friend Madeline Goodman. The NTN was in the planning stages of a donors’ wall. They wanted something that would honor their heavy donors in an original and meaningful way.

    The NTN commissioned four paintings from me. The idea was to represent different parts of the Marquette, MI trail system, and in different seasons.

    Here are the four paintings I created for the Donor Appreciation Wall in the Forestville Chalet. Each painting measures 24″x 36″.

    Gorge-ous Trail in the Summer
    Forestville Dam in the Spring
    Along the Dead Rive in the Autumn
    Forestville Trails in the Winter

    Here is Donor Appreciation Wall in the Forestville Chalet, without out the art, and with.

    The wall at the Forestville Chalet
    The Donors’ Wall with John French paintings installed

    The best part of this project (aside from the earnings and exposure) was getting out and exploring new trails and finding new places to paint. I discovered the Carp River Gorge, and painted several scenes from there. Most of them sold, but there’s one left for now!

    I want to thank Lori and Sara with the NTN for choosing work with me on this very important project. I had a lot of fun doing it!

    About The Noquemanon Trail Network

    Founded in 2001, Noquemanon Trail Network’s (NTN’s) mission is to secure, develop, maintain and promote the use of a non-motorized trail network throughout the Central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. NTN relies on the support of the community and generous land owners to keep trails open and available to the public. As of 2022 there are 8 trail systems maintained by NTN from Munising to Big Bay.

    About the Forestville Trailhead Chalet

    Forestville Chalet Opens Saturday, January 13! Trail Host Hours are 9am-4pm Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm Monday – Friday.*** During the winter season, the Trailhead Chalet is open for changing and bathrooms from 7AM – 10PM. All guests must exit the building before 10PM as the doors auto-lock. The Trailhead Chalet is staffed during the winter with Volunteer Trail Hosts and NTN Staff. In season, hours vary depending on time of the year and conditions. During staffed hours, the chalet is available for you to change, use a warm bathroom, secure rental equipment (skis, snowshoes, and fat bikes), renew membership support, and ask questions of the trail host. Hours are subject to change, so watch here for any updates.

  • A Living, Breathing, Painting, Window Display at Gallery on Fifth!

    A Living, Breathing, Painting, Window Display at Gallery on Fifth!

    The Gallery on Fifth is promoting this event as “Artists in the Window -watch our artists work live in our front window.”

    On Saturday, December 16th, my wife and I drove up to Calumet so I could be a window display!

    I wanted to participate in this event because I thought it would be a fun way to connect to a different set of potential art collectors. Plus, I hadn’t yet met the new owners since they took over. From their website: “In May of 2022, Morten and Kristi Haugland of Destination Calumet purchased the business and the building as part of their plans to revive Calumet and make it a real destination for aesthetes and artisans alike.”

    A week before the event, I roughed-n a scene of Haven Falls, one of many waterfalls in the Keweenaw Peninsula. This would give me a head start on the piece, as well as provide a teaser or preview on social media posts.

    Once I was set up in the window, I got to work. I watched people walk by. I smiled and waved. I invited them in.

    These little girls in the photo to the left were quite inquisitive! Turns out their mother was also an aspiring painter, so we had a good chat too.
    If you look closely, you can see another young lady on the outside looking in. A little later, she would come in too, and we chatted about painting.

    “Haven Falls” 11×14 for $275 available at the Gallery on 5th

    I was able to finish the painting, and leave it at the gallery. It’s available for purchase, but it won’t be dry for a couple of weeks.

    The Gallery on Fifth , featuring world class art and gifts, housed within a historic building in the heart of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

    109 5th St, Calumet, MI, United States, Michigan
    (906) 299-0118

  • I was on live TV, with Tia Trugeon from TV6 Local News

    I was on live TV, with Tia Trugeon from TV6 Local News

    On November 9th, I got up a little extra early and met TV6′s charming personality Tia Trugeon, along with cameraman Robert, at Zero Degrees Gallery for a LIVE interview!

    Like I said, it was live. So if I messed up, there was no fixing it. But I didn’t really mess up; it’s easy for me to talk about my art!

    The news crew put together a nice little article that includes the two segments from my interview. I’ve linked it below.

    So if you want to see me on video, click here!

  • I am the November Visiting Artist at Zero Degrees!

    I am the November Visiting Artist at Zero Degrees!

    ​Zero Degrees Gallery is located at 525 N 3rd St, Marquette, MI 49855

    My work will be on display for purchase at Zero Degrees Gallery in Marquette during the month of November.

    A reception was held on November 4th at the gallery. I got to dress up!
    We had a good turnout. A lot of my friends showed up, and it was great to see them! I met some art lovers and fellow artists that I had not met before. We talked painting, hiking, biking, and life as a creative in general.

    These paintings will be available for purchase at Zero Degrees Gallery in November, 2023.

    Golden Oak Atop a Cliff, 24″x12″ $489

    Peace. Serenity. History. Culture.

    The Michigan landscape is shaped by ages of ice, wind, heat, and rain. These rugged forests have been altered by the tenacious men and women who came before us, in a constant effort to survive and thrive in this Northern paradise.

    I find myself exploring a scene through my brushes and sharing it with you through my colors.

    Through careful observation and attention to detail, I seek to capture the beauty of our natural areas, and sometimes our habitats, celebrating the forces which have shaped our beautiful Great Lakes State.

    Morning Rush Hour 11×14 for $269.00

    Life and Death on a River 9×12, $179.00

    Silver Lake Patchwork 11×14 for $269.00

    ​Zero Degrees Gallery at 525 N 3rd St, Marquette, MI 49855, is the united effort of almost forty established and emerging local artists, exhibiting and selling their artwork through the gallery. Located in Marquette, Michigan, the gallery was formed initially in 2010 and reincorporated in 2022 as a non-profit. The gallery is comprised of a dynamic and diverse group of artists who want to support artistic endeavors in the community, while providing a year-round venue for their work. 

  • 63rd Annual Art on the Rocks, July 29th and 30th

    63rd Annual Art on the Rocks, July 29th and 30th

    The 63rd Annual Art on the Rocks Fine Art Show is scheduled for Saturday, July 29, 2023 from 10:00am-6:00pm and Sunday, July 30, 2023 from 10:00am-4:00pm at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette, Michigan.

    I’ll be exhibiting again this year, with new work, and with a brand new (to me) tent!

    I’m really excited about this Trimline Flourish Canopy. I can’t wait to set up and hang my work. It looks so nice and professional. I feel like a big boy now!

    I finished the last two paintings a week ago. I’ve been getting my art ready to display and packing it up. My van is already loaded up with the tent. To say I’m excited is an understatement!

    I hope to see you there!

  • My Trip To Mackinac Island for the Lilac Festival

    My Trip To Mackinac Island for the Lilac Festival

    The 2023 Mackinac Island Lilac Festival Festival poster contest and exhibit was held on June 9th. My painting was on of the 20 finalists. So we took a three-hour ride and hopped a ferry to one of the most amazing places in the Midwest!