John marcum As a young man I was very active in sports and was a baseball All American at St. Louis University. After I married and the children had grown I finally found time for art. In 1986 I put oil on canvas for the first time.
I am basically self taught with the exception of a few workshops, and painting with a group of artist friends who are led by a 40 year veteran artist. I also read a lot of books on various styles and techniques. In 1999 I began painting in pastel and now do about half my work in that medium.
I love the mountains of Colorado and spend as much time there as possible. You'll see a lot of my painting are from that area. I also have a great love of Southwestern art, and the Indians of the Southwest fascinate me.
My style is mostly realistic. I do landscapes, animals, and portraits. Bright, colorful fall scenes are my favorite. If there's not enough color in my reference photos, I add it as much as possible. I'll change photos taken at high noon to evening by adding colorful skies and window lights. I'll even change seasons if it makes for a better scene.
I do commissioned work and try to give my customers what they want. I listen to their needs and try to fit the piece to their specifications.