I’m no painter so when I took a painting workshop with Impressionist, John Clayton, I wasn’t really expecting much. In fact, I was initially very intimidated. Amazingly, it didn’t take long for John to put me at ease. His quick wit, gentle encouragement and pointed instruction boosted my confidence. Quite frankly, I still can’t believe that a Master painter of his caliber could possibly be that patient and truly interested in a neophyte like myself.
Long story short, I’m still not a great painter but thanks to John Clayton, that one workshop many years ago changed the way I see things today.
When I look at things now, I’m so much more aware of how light and color affect what I see. I also appreciate how much John’s paintings are a testament to their beauty.
Of course I will never be a “John Clayton.” His mastery took years in the making. After a stint at The Art Student’s League of New York, he journeyed to Provincetown where he em-barked on an intense period of study at the Cape School of Art, one of the country’s preeminent outdoor painting schools.
John painted outdoors as often as he could. Over many years, he matured into a devoted plein air painter and is now part of Provincetown’s historic legacy of impressionist painters.
In the summer, you can find him painting and teaching throughout Cape Cod. Come winter, he heads on down to Key West where he spends his days capturing the incomparable light, beauti-ful colors, topography, culture, and creativity of our little island paradise. His vibrant depictions of his two favorite towns make him a favorite with collectors — including me. You can see more of his work at johnclaytonstudio.com.
The Key West Art Center at 301 Front Street is hosting a three day “Exploring Color & Light” Workshop with John Clayton on March 18 – 20. To register or for more info, call 305-294-1241 or hit up keywestartcenter.com.
