John Lawrence

Artist Statement

My work is about energy. I want viewers to hear the crash of a wave, feel the mist it throws, or ponder the quiet stillness of moonlight. Oil paint allows me to create fluid lines and thick impasto passages that catch the light. I love watercolor for its spontaneity and simplicity. I’m influenced by the atmosphere of the impressionists and the raw emotion of the expressionists. Seascapes are personal for me; my father and grandmother painted them, and after my father passed in 2022, I returned to painting the ocean with renewed focus. If my paintings make viewers want to experience more art or remember what they loved about art as a kid, then I’ve done my job.