John Cross

John was formally trained as a commercial artist/illustrator from California State University. It was by meeting Michael Linstrom in a Los Gatos, California gallery that inspired his transition from commercial artist to fine artist. John’s work was inspired by the California School of Color which at that time had a long tradition of plein air painters who had either studied in France or were students of those who had studied in France in the early 20th Century. He was also heavily influenced by Nicolai Fechin and Sergei Bongart.

John lived in the Sierra Foothills where he worked hard to develop his skills as a fine artist. While there, he was able to have Hollywood set painter legend Duncan Spencer mentor him on the art of plain air painting. John has had his work displayed in galleries in San Francisco, Sonoma, and San Diego, California along with the Joe Wade Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His work has been collected by numerous national and international patrons. John has won various awards and accolades with his work. Most proudly: The Marin Society of Art’s Gumbacher Gold Medal Award for Oil Painting.