ABOUT MY ART My Art I have been painting since the age of thirteen. Excepting a few brief periods, I have never painted full-time. I spent a few years in a special art class in Junior High, but other than that I have had no art instruction to speak of. When I was in Junior High I decided that I wanted art to play a significant role in my life. I refused to paint pretty pictures or “couch art”. I wanted to paint what was in my head; unique pictures. By never attempting to make a living from the sale of my art, I was able to keep it pure. I did not have to deal with teachers limiting my creativity or clients whose demands would remove the edge from my art. In time, I came to understand that metaphysical, spiritual, and some political themes would be the foundation of my art. In 1986 I finally found a style with which I was satisfied. On my art site, www.johnworldpeaceart.com, you will find all the paintings that I have completed since 1986. Nudes and Dragons In 2003, I began inserting some semi-nude females into my abstract paintings. The females I paint are nudes, but unlike traditional nudes who are generally shown in a casual earthly environment (lying on a bed, sitting on a couch, taking a bath), mine are surrounded by their multi-dimensional realities. The metaphysical reality of the earth and the spiritual dimension is a theme in almost all of my paintings. I do not feel that my nudes exploit women because, unlike traditional nudes, they are not sexually displayed. The women that I paint are engaged in some worthy or significant endeavor. Women are just as capable as men of assuming any role in the world human society. Acceptance of this fact promotes equality of women worldwide and, consequently, promotes an increase in the level of peace in the world human society. I also like to paint dragons. I consider dragons to be secular representations of spirituality. I see dragons as neither gods, nor as demonic. I see them as embodying all the good and bad in the universe, but I try to keep a positive orientation. The dragons I paint represent the nude’s interaction with the metaphysical reality of heaven, earth, and getting in touch with one’s higher self. Dragons are very colorful and I find bright colors uplifting. I do not enjoy painting dark or depressing pictures. Enough of that exists in the world already. There is a story of a man who gave a sick friend some books of Zen stories. Later, he asked his recovered friend how he liked the books. His friend said that he did not understand the stories, but he felt better after reading them. This is my hope for my art. It is meant to communicate with one’s higher spiritual nature. It is abstract, which is the language of the subconscious mind and the soul. Though a person may not be able to bring to consciousness what he or she is feeling, they hopefully feel better after viewing my art. About My Art: Purpose I see virtually all of my art in flashes, as dreams or visions. These are very short lived; generally the visions last only seconds. When I see a painting in my mind, it does not leave me. All the visions I have had of paintings are still very vivid to me. Unfortunately, it is impossible to paint the sheen, sparkle, and glow that I see in the visions. Earth is just too dull a medium to allow for reproduction of the true colors in these visions. I believe that all art was originally spiritual in nature and purpose. We have reached a point where every absurd, banal exhibit has been declared art. I do like the idea of really good ‘bad art’. My objective is to turn the clock back, so to speak, and create spiritual art. Not religious art with scenes of Jesus and the Old Testament prophets, though those are forthcoming, but spiritual regarding the connection between human beings and their infinite, immortal souls and God. We are all, for the most part, confused in the manifestations of this finite, mortal realm where we have temporarily bound our infinite, immortal soul. The body will die and decay. The soul continues to travel. My art cannot be classified into any existing category. It is unique. I have included detailed explanations of many of my paintings and placed the narratives with each corresponding painting on my website.