Whether I sell my work or not, I enjoy creating
them ... and every so often something worthwhile happens!

BACKGROUND:
John was born in 1928 and spent the first sixteen years of his life in
St. Andrews East, a picturesque Quebec village located about fifty
miles north of Montreal and seven miles south of Lachute. Like most
children at that time he took “art” in school and learned that ,”to be
a good artist one must stay within the lines.” After that initial start
he put it aside and didn’t become re-involved for more than 60 years.
In 1944 he moved with his family to Prescott, where he attended high
school, as well as helping in his father’s wood-working shop, where
he learned to be a cabinet maker. He moved to Brockville in 1950 and
continued working with wood, in the construction business.
He married Elaine in 1959, and in 1961 left the wood working
field to become a Snap On Tool dealer, although he continued wood
working as a hobby. With the help of his family he built their dream
home on the St. Lawrence river in his spare time between 1977 and
79. They continue to live there now. He retired from his Snap On Tool
position in 1982, and continued working on their house.
When Elaine retired from her position at St. Lawrence College
in 1991 she started to look for a hobby, and decided that some of
the Art courses at St. Lawrence College had possibilities. She then
persuaded John to try them as well and they attended one of Dianne
Sheridan's classes. That was a good choice and with Dianne’s
encouragement they were both soon ‘hooked on art’, and have been
taking art classes ever since with numerous teachers, including Henry
Vyfvinkel, Margaret Grothier, Ed Kronk, Andrea Green, Lou Charton
and Mary Nunn, among others. Each teacher has his/her own style
and John feels that he has learned from each of them. In 1998 John
received his Fine Arts certificate with distinction. He is still trying to develop
his own style and continues using different subjects and different media. He
is fond of landscapes, particularly river scenes, but is interested in
portraiture as well. Lately he has become interested in abstract art
particularly in a combination of the Jackson Pollock and Riopelle
style which he calls ‘Instinctive Abstract’. He is predominantly a
water colorist but has used oils and acrylics. His works hang in such
places as Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa, Prescott and Brockville as well as
Detroit and Texas. Whether he sells his works or not, he enjoys doing
them, and every so often something worthwhile happens. He plans to continue.

John McClintock jmcclintock@sympatico.ca