| Born in Kansas, but raised in Phoenix, Arzona. Education: Calfo College of Arts and Crafts, Arizona State University, and Los Angeles State College. Creative influences: Traveling and being inspired by art in exotic places. Influenced by many artists, from Francis Bacon to Salvador Dali. Admires the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Tate Gallery in London. Favorite place, real or imagined: Thailand, the Amalfi Coast and Florence. The visual stimulation of Vienna and Prague top the list. Pursuits and interests: Likes traveling with companions, skiing, opera, live theater, performance art, Broadway, and building things by hand. A distinct classical influence from the hand of a master craftsman might be one way of describing the intricate layering of images and media in the work of John Douglas. Whether it is a massive painting filled with religious iconography or a wall hanging evoking Greek or Roman antiquity, there is always a touch of the avant garde, a “bigness” and abstraction that transcends mere classical representation, giving the work a latitude and appeal that is truly remarkable. “I like the balance in the classical,” explains Douglas, “it's all around us %96 the world has a penchant for basing everything on classical proportions.” “Go for it” is a personal motto for Douglas, and he is more than willing to go, literally, to the ends of the earth to find inspiration for his work in the objects and art of exotic places. |
