Artist John Robertson

Galleries

Search blog for images or content via keywords like: Abstract, Landscapes, Sports, football, impressionistic, etc

A vibrant painting of a hand dunking a basketball into a net, capturing the energy and motion of the game

Sports Art

Sports art with the energy and emotion of the game through bold, expressionistic sports paintings. The paintings capture dynamic moments with strong brushstrokes, vibrant color contrasts, and raw textures, bringing movement to life on canvas.

Contemporary portrait painting with dripping paint technique in gold and blue tones, featuring expressive brushwork and intense gaze

Portraits

Expressionist and abstract realism portraits go beyond likeness to capture the soul of the subject. Using bold brushwork, dripping paint, and heavy texture, each portrait conveys emotion, energy, and movement.

Man with dog alt tex t A person stands in front of a black and white artwork depicting a man with a dog, taped to a wall in an art studio

Figuritive

My figurative paintings merge recognizable human forms with expressive, abstract elements, creating a fusion of raw emotion and movement. Dripping paint, layered brushstrokes, and unexpected textures bring a visceral energy to each piece.

Large abstract painting featuring a figure over a textured agricultural landscape, with the artist standing beside the artwork.

Large Landscapes

My abstract impressionist landscapes balance recognizable scenery with expressive, gestural mark-making. Impasto techniques, thick textures, and vibrant color palettes create a dynamic and immersive experience

Small Landscapes

Compact yet powerful, my small landscape paintings distill the essence of a scene into expressive brushstrokes and rich textures. These Intimate, textured landscapes, paintings bring a sense of atmosphere and movement to personal spaces, offices, and small art collections

Large black-and-white painting of a vintage Mercury car with expressive ink drips, with the artist standing beside the artwork.
Modern living room with red modular sofa and large golden dog portrait, featuring natural light and contemporary styling

Automobile and Motorcycle Art

My expressionistic car and motorcycle paintings capture the raw power and speed of these machines. Thick textures, bold colors, and abstract forms create a sense of movement and energy, making them perfect for automotive enthusiasts, collectors, and corporate spaces looking for unique, high-impact artwork.

Paintings in Client’s Homes

See how my artwork transforms spaces with bold color, texture, and movement. My paintings have been featured in private collections, corporate offices, and designer interiors, offering a unique blend of abstract realism and expressive brushwork. Explore how my art can enhance your space.

Impressionist mountain landscape oil painting with thick impasto technique on raw canvas, featuring golden valleys and cloudy skies
Art studio setup on a sound stage, featuring multiple easels with abstract and modern paintings

Blog

Explore my insights into painting techniques, artistic inspiration, and the stories behind my artwork. My blog offers a behind-the-scenes look at my process, from expressionist portrait techniques to impasto landscape painting methods, connecting art lovers and collectors with the passion behind each piece.

Nobable Moments

From museum exhibitions to high-profile commissions in sports stadiums and arenas, this section highlights significant moments in my artistic journey. My work has been featured in galleries, private collections, and public spaces, reinforcing its impact in the world of contemporary expressionism

Large-scale baseball painting depicting a dramatic play at home plate with an umpire making the call, framed in a modern interior.

Videos

Watch my art come to life in studio process videos, time-lapse paintings, and behind-the-scenes footage. My videos capture the dynamic energy of brushstrokes, layering techniques, and the evolution of each painting, offering collectors and art lovers an immersive experience.

Featured
Rocks on the River: Reflections on Painting the Ventura River
abstract art, abstract painting, abstract landscape
Rocks on the River: Reflections on Painting the Ventura River
abstract art, abstract painting, abstract landscape

Staring at my canvas, and on this day, the white space took on an ethereal, misty quality, making me think, "Wait, white sky" The bottom part of my painting looked like rocks by a river or my early morning coffee. Using thick, moody black, I aimed to convey, "I contain multitudes, and possibly some pebbles." The texture mirrored nature's abstract existential crisis. Art, you start with one idea and discover countless justifications. The painting embodies contrast, where black and white paint mimic water and stone, chaos and stillness. It’s about movement and how even solid rock changes.Think about staring at a river and just watching the water.

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abstract art, abstract painting, abstract landscape
"Landfall" – Capturing the Chaos of a Storm in Paint
abstract art, abstract painting, abstract seascape
"Landfall" – Capturing the Chaos of a Storm in Paint
abstract art, abstract painting, abstract seascape

Trying to capture a storm’s essence can be  chaotic. I’ve been battling this overpriced BMF-650 sable blend brush (aka “expensive mistake maker”), trying to pin down the perfect turbulence effect with a tube of Prussian Blue that cost more than my weekly coffee budget. Just when I thought I had it, my easel decided to tumbling thirty feet down rocky terrain. Good thing I didn’t skip the extra thick varnish. The composition took a hit, but sometimes the best art comes from unexpected disasters—or in this case, not-so-happy tumbles. Storm painting is like that: nature’s chaos meets artistic chaos, where the paint does weird things, and you just roll with it.

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abstract art, abstract painting, abstract seascape
Abstract Expressionism and the Ocean: 'Wind Blows North”
abstract art, abstract painting, abstract seascape
Abstract Expressionism and the Ocean: 'Wind Blows North”
abstract art, abstract painting, abstract seascape

Living just a few blocks from the ocean has its perks. One of my favorite things to do is head down to the shore when it's stormy. There's something about feeling the wind and rain coming off the ocean that just gets the creative juices flowing. "Wind Blows North" is a reflection of those stormy days. Abstract expressionism is all about letting go and allowing the paint to guide you. For this piece, I used aggressive brushstrokes and splatters to convey the chaotic energy of a storm. The colors are bold and dynamic, with splashes of yellow, black, and white against a blue background. "Wind Blows North" isn't just about a storm. It's about the feeling of being alive, of standing on the edge of something powerful and uncontrollable. It's about embracing the chaos and finding beauty in it.

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abstract art, abstract painting, abstract seascape