John Marcum

John Marcum is a native of Missouri and graduated from St. Louis University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He began painting in oil in 1985 and in 1999 completed his first pastel painting. Since that time he has won awards in both mediums. John painted part time while working in industrial sales. After retiring in 2008 he has been a dedicated full time artist.

John likes to paint Missouri landmarks, but also paints portraits, animals, still life, and landscapes. Composition is the key to John’s artwork, and he starts defining the composition from the very first reference photos he takes. He constantly searches for the ideal mood and perspective, often using a photo taken at midday to create an evening or night scene.

From the beginning, John’s work in pastel brought about a looser style from his oil paintings and produces more interesting effects. Eager to try new techniques, he found that using pallet knives can create works of art with an impressionistic look. Now his choice of tools and medium depend on the final effect he seeks to achieve.

​John is a juried member of the Greater St. Louis Art Association. His fine art has been sold throughout the U S. and his work is currently offered for sale at Artisan in the Loop Gallery in Louis, and at Von Dell Gallery in Wood River, Illinois where he has his studio and teaches art classes. He also lists his work on Ebay and Etsy online.