NO ARTS FOUND BY ARTIST

As a youngster, John traveled extensively as his parents moved back and fourth across the United States. Sitting in the back seat of the cars drawing for hour's things he saw along the roadside. A self taught artist, he would rather draw than play sports. Although from what I've heard Racquet Ball is a close second. His formal education in art began in the sixth grade. John attended three different sixth grade schools, because of the frequent moves. The last move he found himself at Northridge Jr. High School in San Fernando Valley, California, where he attended Mrs. Gloria Patterson's art class. Mrs. Patterson was more than an art teacher. She tutored John in English, Math, History and anything else she could shove down his throat, but that's another story. The foundations he learned in her class are the building blocks of his career both in the professional and the art world.
Leaving Jr. High, John attended James Monroe High School there in the valley. Art classes were quite full and he started taking photo shop. At the age of 15 he began flying his dad's private plane. He out flew both his dad and his instructor, doing a solo in less than 6 hours. However he never received his license because he couldn't read the test or figure the math involved. Surfing, Hot Rods, girls and life in general around the California beach area in the early '60 took John down a hard road of drugs and rebellion. He was socially promoted (graduated) because his academics were so poor. If you ask him what he learned in High School he will tell you; "Three things: There is always someone bigger than you. There is always someone smarter than you. And there's always a better way to do something." After graduation John was drafted into the Army. The Vet Nam war was going strong. A short tour in Germany broadened his horizon and gave him more subject materal to paint.
After years of not being active with his art (job, family, finishing college) we find John living in Central Texas with his wife Youlanda Ruth. A spiritual rebirth, a wife full of encouragement, a small studio, a blank canvas, and lots of paint: The artist is back to work.