John French
@artofjohnfrench.bsky.social
Oil painter who has dogs.
I go outside and get inspired.
ArtofJohnFrench.com
I go outside and get inspired.
ArtofJohnFrench.com
"Twisty Tree" 18" x 24" oil Rework of a plein air piece from last summer.
My plein air paintings are loose & sketchy. I'm not a quick enough painter to capture a scene with tight detail on site. Often, I'll rework a plein air piece in my studio, tightening it up into something closer to my style.
My plein air paintings are loose & sketchy. I'm not a quick enough painter to capture a scene with tight detail on site. Often, I'll rework a plein air piece in my studio, tightening it up into something closer to my style.
March 23, 2025 at 11:51 PM
"Twisty Tree" 18" x 24" oil Rework of a plein air piece from last summer.
My plein air paintings are loose & sketchy. I'm not a quick enough painter to capture a scene with tight detail on site. Often, I'll rework a plein air piece in my studio, tightening it up into something closer to my style.
My plein air paintings are loose & sketchy. I'm not a quick enough painter to capture a scene with tight detail on site. Often, I'll rework a plein air piece in my studio, tightening it up into something closer to my style.
"Hay There (Wet Haul on Market Street)"
11x14 oil on canvas
It takes a lot of work to maintain the tourist paradise of Mackinac Island, Michigan. I'm sort of intrigued by the juxtaposition of "regular" folks doing regular jobs in such a fantastic place.
11x14 oil on canvas
It takes a lot of work to maintain the tourist paradise of Mackinac Island, Michigan. I'm sort of intrigued by the juxtaposition of "regular" folks doing regular jobs in such a fantastic place.
March 16, 2025 at 1:04 PM
"Hay There (Wet Haul on Market Street)"
11x14 oil on canvas
It takes a lot of work to maintain the tourist paradise of Mackinac Island, Michigan. I'm sort of intrigued by the juxtaposition of "regular" folks doing regular jobs in such a fantastic place.
11x14 oil on canvas
It takes a lot of work to maintain the tourist paradise of Mackinac Island, Michigan. I'm sort of intrigued by the juxtaposition of "regular" folks doing regular jobs in such a fantastic place.
"Unnamed Falls" oil on 11x14 board.
This is my 1st painting on a cradle board. I sanded the board, taped the sides, & triple primed it. It's a smooth but slightly toothy surface. After painting, I removed the tape to show pretty wood grained sides!
This is my 1st painting on a cradle board. I sanded the board, taped the sides, & triple primed it. It's a smooth but slightly toothy surface. After painting, I removed the tape to show pretty wood grained sides!
March 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
"Unnamed Falls" oil on 11x14 board.
This is my 1st painting on a cradle board. I sanded the board, taped the sides, & triple primed it. It's a smooth but slightly toothy surface. After painting, I removed the tape to show pretty wood grained sides!
This is my 1st painting on a cradle board. I sanded the board, taped the sides, & triple primed it. It's a smooth but slightly toothy surface. After painting, I removed the tape to show pretty wood grained sides!
Coffee in a blizzard
February 28, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Coffee in a blizzard
I took these pictures last night at sunset. This is the beautifully illuminated tailings pile at the Tilden Iron Mine, from Republic, MI. This is the highest point in Michigan right now. At 2005 feet, it's slightly higher than Michigan's highest natural point, Mt Arvon- 1979 feet.
February 25, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I took these pictures last night at sunset. This is the beautifully illuminated tailings pile at the Tilden Iron Mine, from Republic, MI. This is the highest point in Michigan right now. At 2005 feet, it's slightly higher than Michigan's highest natural point, Mt Arvon- 1979 feet.
A Lighthouse under dramatic skies in four seasons. Each canvas is 8-inch square. They look good together!
February 24, 2025 at 12:15 AM
A Lighthouse under dramatic skies in four seasons. Each canvas is 8-inch square. They look good together!
"Legendary Lilacs" 16x20 oil on canvas
This is inspired by a picture I took of my wife and her Irish Wolfhound strutting among the Lilac bushes on Mackinac Island, Michigan
#michiganart #mackinacisland #oilpainting #oiloncanvas
This is inspired by a picture I took of my wife and her Irish Wolfhound strutting among the Lilac bushes on Mackinac Island, Michigan
#michiganart #mackinacisland #oilpainting #oiloncanvas
February 15, 2025 at 11:50 PM
"Legendary Lilacs" 16x20 oil on canvas
This is inspired by a picture I took of my wife and her Irish Wolfhound strutting among the Lilac bushes on Mackinac Island, Michigan
#michiganart #mackinacisland #oilpainting #oiloncanvas
This is inspired by a picture I took of my wife and her Irish Wolfhound strutting among the Lilac bushes on Mackinac Island, Michigan
#michiganart #mackinacisland #oilpainting #oiloncanvas
Moonlight through my leaded window.
February 12, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Moonlight through my leaded window.
Got a cool paint smudge today.😎
February 8, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Got a cool paint smudge today.😎
Chilly but refreshing walk along Lake Superior in Marquette, MI.
February 4, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Chilly but refreshing walk along Lake Superior in Marquette, MI.
I've been working on these all year! 😉 I painted these simultaneously so they'd have the same colors & the same mood.
I love the granite bluffs on the Lake Superior shoreline, especially ones topped with pillars of red pines. It's like being in a natural temple.
Red Pines on Rocks I & II
16"x20"ea
I love the granite bluffs on the Lake Superior shoreline, especially ones topped with pillars of red pines. It's like being in a natural temple.
Red Pines on Rocks I & II
16"x20"ea
February 2, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I've been working on these all year! 😉 I painted these simultaneously so they'd have the same colors & the same mood.
I love the granite bluffs on the Lake Superior shoreline, especially ones topped with pillars of red pines. It's like being in a natural temple.
Red Pines on Rocks I & II
16"x20"ea
I love the granite bluffs on the Lake Superior shoreline, especially ones topped with pillars of red pines. It's like being in a natural temple.
Red Pines on Rocks I & II
16"x20"ea
What a perfectly typical "grandpa" thing to do!
😴
😴
January 26, 2025 at 11:47 PM
What a perfectly typical "grandpa" thing to do!
😴
😴
Queen Isabella in her tower.
We just call her Bella. She has thumbs!
We just call her Bella. She has thumbs!
January 26, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Queen Isabella in her tower.
We just call her Bella. She has thumbs!
We just call her Bella. She has thumbs!
Ice encased breakwall on Lake Superior.
January 20, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Ice encased breakwall on Lake Superior.
The Marquette, MI area community is still mourning the passing of Beth Millner; jeweler, artist, business woman, mentor, arts advocate & good person.
If you're thinking of suicide, please reach out to someone. The world will miss you.
There's always hope if you're still breathing.
If you're thinking of suicide, please reach out to someone. The world will miss you.
There's always hope if you're still breathing.
January 14, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The Marquette, MI area community is still mourning the passing of Beth Millner; jeweler, artist, business woman, mentor, arts advocate & good person.
If you're thinking of suicide, please reach out to someone. The world will miss you.
There's always hope if you're still breathing.
If you're thinking of suicide, please reach out to someone. The world will miss you.
There's always hope if you're still breathing.
"Lake Effect Snow Swirling in the Hills"
11x14 oil on canvas
I climbed Marquette, MI's Sugarloaf Mtn in a lake effect snow squall to get this scene. I almost froze to death.😉
I hope it feels cold!
11x14 oil on canvas
I climbed Marquette, MI's Sugarloaf Mtn in a lake effect snow squall to get this scene. I almost froze to death.😉
I hope it feels cold!
January 5, 2025 at 10:27 PM
"Lake Effect Snow Swirling in the Hills"
11x14 oil on canvas
I climbed Marquette, MI's Sugarloaf Mtn in a lake effect snow squall to get this scene. I almost froze to death.😉
I hope it feels cold!
11x14 oil on canvas
I climbed Marquette, MI's Sugarloaf Mtn in a lake effect snow squall to get this scene. I almost froze to death.😉
I hope it feels cold!
Not even a nice try, Anton.
January 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Not even a nice try, Anton.
I started these two paintings the other day with just three colors plus white.
I live Red Pines! When they grow on a rocky hillside or hilltop, they wrap their roots tightly and twist themselves into bends of determination.
I'm going to add color and finish these together.
#oilpainting #hiking
I live Red Pines! When they grow on a rocky hillside or hilltop, they wrap their roots tightly and twist themselves into bends of determination.
I'm going to add color and finish these together.
#oilpainting #hiking
January 5, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I started these two paintings the other day with just three colors plus white.
I live Red Pines! When they grow on a rocky hillside or hilltop, they wrap their roots tightly and twist themselves into bends of determination.
I'm going to add color and finish these together.
#oilpainting #hiking
I live Red Pines! When they grow on a rocky hillside or hilltop, they wrap their roots tightly and twist themselves into bends of determination.
I'm going to add color and finish these together.
#oilpainting #hiking
Happy new year! I hope 2025 is successful for all, especially those of us in the arts business!
Here's my first painting of 2025: Fayette Furnaces
Fayette, MI is an old iron smelting town turned state park. It's made up of old homes and businesses from the town's heyday.
Here's my first painting of 2025: Fayette Furnaces
Fayette, MI is an old iron smelting town turned state park. It's made up of old homes and businesses from the town's heyday.
January 1, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Happy new year! I hope 2025 is successful for all, especially those of us in the arts business!
Here's my first painting of 2025: Fayette Furnaces
Fayette, MI is an old iron smelting town turned state park. It's made up of old homes and businesses from the town's heyday.
Here's my first painting of 2025: Fayette Furnaces
Fayette, MI is an old iron smelting town turned state park. It's made up of old homes and businesses from the town's heyday.
Four highlights from 2024
December 31, 2024 at 1:55 PM
Four highlights from 2024
December 26, 2024 at 11:10 PM
Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2024 at 1:00 PM
Merry Christmas!
#ArtAdventCalendar
It's been fun! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
"Narrow is the Path"
12"w x 24"h oil on canvas
Ruins in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
It's been fun! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
"Narrow is the Path"
12"w x 24"h oil on canvas
Ruins in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
December 24, 2024 at 1:25 PM
#ArtAdventCalendar
It's been fun! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
"Narrow is the Path"
12"w x 24"h oil on canvas
Ruins in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
It's been fun! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
"Narrow is the Path"
12"w x 24"h oil on canvas
Ruins in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
December 23, 2024 at 6:51 PM
#ArtAdventCalendar
"Rock Hound"
I had this painting (original version, 2nd pic) on display at an art fair this past summer. To my horror, 3 people asked if he was peeing in the lake.
No! His hand is in his pocket because it's cold, or he's putting a rock in it. Irritated me. So I had to fix it.
"Rock Hound"
I had this painting (original version, 2nd pic) on display at an art fair this past summer. To my horror, 3 people asked if he was peeing in the lake.
No! His hand is in his pocket because it's cold, or he's putting a rock in it. Irritated me. So I had to fix it.
December 22, 2024 at 10:41 AM
#ArtAdventCalendar
"Rock Hound"
I had this painting (original version, 2nd pic) on display at an art fair this past summer. To my horror, 3 people asked if he was peeing in the lake.
No! His hand is in his pocket because it's cold, or he's putting a rock in it. Irritated me. So I had to fix it.
"Rock Hound"
I had this painting (original version, 2nd pic) on display at an art fair this past summer. To my horror, 3 people asked if he was peeing in the lake.
No! His hand is in his pocket because it's cold, or he's putting a rock in it. Irritated me. So I had to fix it.