How do you find inspiration?
John Meister: The term ‘magical realism’ truly describes New Mexico. Living here, I appreciate the aesthetic of life in all its forms and gravitate toward intimate views of nature. Getting up close to the botanical life here, there are endless possibilities for amazing subjects. Life must do a little something extra to thrive here, and it can display great beauty in the process. I strive to capture that.
How did you develop your unique style?
John Meister: Recently, I have primarily been working on a new body of work that I call my “Vaudeville” series. These paintings feature a somewhat stylized botanical subject, such as a cactus or flower, in front of a simple, colorful, graphic backdrop. I imagine them as depicting a performer on stage. They are mostly produced in the studio but from many years of experience painting up close to my subjects outside, en plein air. The idea for the first one came as a dreamy flash image as I was waking up one morning. I painted it in two days and haven’t stopped working on the series. Prior to painting full-time, I was a graphic designer for 23 years, and these satisfy my “design itch”.
To see more of John’s work, visit:
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