John Wolfe
John Wolfe grew up in the small town of Davidson, Oklahoma, where schools did not offer art education. However, John’s parents recognized their son loved to draw, so despite the absence of formal instruction, they found private art classes to help fuel his passion. Since his family raised cotton, wheat, and cattle, he was always outdoors helping on the ranch, working with his hands, and soaking up his natural surroundings. Over time the combination of his strong work ethic, a desire to create, and a love for the outdoors motivated John to find a way to make art a significant part of his life.
Church, Dilia, New Mexico by John Wolfe
When he left high school, John decided to major in art education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He realized that he had a knack for teaching and loved sharing his passion for artistic creation. John completed his M.Ed. at the University of Central Oklahoma and began teaching in the Midwest City-Del City school system for 35 years. He was a junior high school teacher and thrived off the young people's energy, humor, and open-mindedness. Many of his students had never experienced art education, so John loved inspiring them to explore their creativity. He enjoyed teaching so much that he became an adjunct at Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma, and Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. Working in education allowed John to share his knowledge of art and pursue personal projects during the summertime. During his summer vacation, he often traveled across America, searching for inspiration for future creations. Over time his passion for exploring the country for creative inspiration evolved into a lasting practice after retirement.
It has been 17 years since John left the classroom to focus entirely on creative discovery and making original artwork. John says, "You grow up around things and places you take for granted. So, I started looking closer at the environment that I had been in and started noticing things I had not paid attention to in the past." However, it is difficult to pinpoint what John is seeking.
Several years ago, he took a road trip to take photos for future paintings and invited his cousin to tag along. John says, "While driving across the countryside, my cousin asked, 'What are you looking for?' I told him I didn't know yet. I will know it when I see it." When something catches John's eye, like a shadow or a color, it compels him to take photographs to capture the essence of what makes the subject unique. He then uploads the photos to his computer and examines the subtle differences before drawing several variations. Finally, he uses the drawings as a guide to begin painting on panels.
John's distinctive awareness has empowered him to produce stunning paintings and sculptures inspired by places and things located across the United States. John says, "Many of the buildings I've painted don't exist anymore ." So, in a way, he is documenting the location's history, and his original paintings are like monuments to buildings that once dotted the countryside.
John's art often focuses on older buildings that possess their own story. However, John feels his paintings express a new narrative from his perspective and wants his audience to engage with the artwork and discover their personal story. John states, "I want people to react. If they do have a response, it may take them further to bring back a memory of a place or a time." John does not focus on whether the response is good or bad because it makes his audience feel something either way. Feeling something every time you experience his work is what matters to John. His sculptures and paintings have inspired audiences to feel something as his work is continuously exhibited extensively across Oklahoma and other regions of the country.
Please visit the Objets Trouvés website to learn more about John Wolfe and view the paintings and sculptures available for purchase.
