Art of John French

Tag: exhibit

  • 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!

  • 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!

  • 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!

  • I’m Going to Mackinac Island!

    I’m Going to Mackinac Island!

    A few months back, I entered the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival Poster Contest.

    I’m absolutely thrilled to tell you that my painting made the Top 20!!

    So what does that mean?

    “Lilacs at the Fort” 16×20 oil on canvas

    This contest is put on by Mackinac Island Tourism as a part of the 75th Annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival , starting on June 9th, 2023. The Top 20 entries were selected by a juror, Dr Philip Rice, program Director for Mackinac Arts Council.

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

    That’s not all…

    The Mackinac Island Poster Committee, made up of Mackinac Island business and gallery owners, will select a winner from the Top 20.

    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 9th. There, the winning poster will be announced.

    So, I’m going to Mackinac Island!

    I feel like I’ve already won magnificent prizes; a chance to be seen by Gallery Owners, an opportunity to be on display at one of the Midwest’s hottest tourist spots, and a free ferry ride to a most magical place.

    Click here for a full Lilac Festival schedule

  • Art on the Rocks returns to Marquette

    Art on the Rocks returns to Marquette

    Art on the Rocks Annual Art Fair
    Mattson Lower Harbor Park, Marquette, MI
    Saturday and Sunday, July 30th and 31st, beginning at 10am

    The Lake Superior Art Association‘s annual art fair has been sadly missing over the last two years due to COVID19 concerns, but now, Art on the Rocks is back!

    I’m looking forward to being back to this historic event, now in it’s 63nd year!

    The event was started in 1959 by a small group of artists, It’s grown to be one of the premier art fairs in the upper Midwest.

    New Art of John French paintings Available!

    I’ve been quite busy getting fresh new work ready for you to enjoy. I have original art available for every budget, from this 18×24 piece down to several smaller works.

    painting of a river and dam
    Dam Pretty View

    This 11″x14″ painting of some northern Michigan hills and a stream beautifully captures the wild and rugged area near Michigan’s Huron Mountains.

    Scroll down to see more new paintings, available beginning on Saturday, July 30th at Art on the Rocks!

    Adventure Awaits 9×12
    Choppy Cold Superior 11×14
    A Falls of Gold 9×12
    Across the Bay 8×10
  • Best in Show

    Best in Show

    Well, I didn’t expect THAT to happen.

    Let me start at the beginning. 

    The Lake Superior Art Association (LSAA) usually holds their Annual Members’ Show in the summer. We all know this around here. This year, the venue was being renovated during the summer, so the show was postponed until January.

    In all the confusion, I thought I had missed it. I checked the LSAA site, and saw that I’d missed the pre-registration deadline. So I decided not to be a rule breaker, and to not enter.

    The LSAA President, and my friend, Michele Tuccini, encouraged me to enter anyway. They were being extra flexible because of the construction delays. So I changed my mind, and entered.

    We could enter two pieces, but only one would be chosen. So the jurors chose one of my personal favorites, “The View”.

    The View

    The reception and awards ceremony were last night, January 19th. My wife and I showed up right on time and began to mingle.

    I said hello to one of my friends, Nheena. She’s the director of the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, and a well loved member of the community. 

    Nheena said “Congratulations!” 

    I said “For what?”

    “Didn’t you do good with your painting?”

    “Yeah… I got in. Thanks!”

    Nheena is always super friendly. I walked away thinking she was just being her usual peppy, sweet self.

    So we mingled and chatted until award time.

    They started announcing the awards. Honorable Mention #1 was a great piece, not mine. Honorable Mention #2, another great piece, not mine. 

    2nd Place went to a large piece by Bernard Park. Great painting!

    1st Place went to local freaking legend Kathleen Conover. She’s great! Who can beat her?

    So I didn’t win.

    But wait, there’s more… I forgot about Best in Show.

    Michele made the announcement, in slow motion, while I looked around the room trying to guess which piece won. 

    “Best in Show goes to the painting entitled ‘The View’…” (Hey, that’s my title!) “…by John French” 

    What? The words processed slowly through my little brain. Once they did, I was shocked! I was honored! I was in disbelief! My wife was too. People congratulated me, and talked about the painting. I thanked them, and answered their questions, beaming the whole time.

    Back to Nheena. I found out she was one of the jurors. When she congratulated me, she thought I knew I’d won. She almost spilled the beans! She quickly figured out that the winners hadn’t been disclosed yet, so she played dumb. 

    I am honored, and thankful, for this wonderful recognition. There was some absolutely fantastic work in this show. I’ve juried this same show before, and I know how hard it can be to chose award winners. I can still hardly believe that I beat out all that wonderful work.