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“My Art Journey: Painting and Perspectives" 

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The Chaos of Christmas: A Painting and a Question
portraits, social political art, political art John Robertson portraits, social political art, political art John Robertson

The Chaos of Christmas: A Painting and a Question

Every year, someone stares at my painting and asks about the text, ‘What does it mean?’ Honestly, that’s my favorite part—leaving people to figure it out like they’re cracking a code. Christmas has turned into this wild mix of sacred and commercial, where somewhere in the chaos, the original meaning seems to have slipped out the back door. My painting isn’t a lecture; it’s a messy, loud celebration where the sacred and the absurd shake hands awkwardly.

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Fight Against Propaganda: “Too Much Bullshit” in Art
political art, social political art, portraits John Robertson political art, social political art, portraits John Robertson

Fight Against Propaganda: “Too Much Bullshit” in Art

Art should be real, but these days, it’s often dressed up to look like something it’s not, and in my painting "Too Much Bullshit," A person is holding up a sign as a stand against the nonsense we’re constantly fed online. I’m searching for real art beneath all the fluff, glitter, and gloss—an attempt to break through the surface and get to something honest. People think they’re seeing the truth on social media, but most of the time, it’s filtered, so with "Too Much Bullshit," I’m calling out these empty visuals to keep authenticity alive.

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Painting Jeff Ho: A Look Behind the Legend of the Z-Boys
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Painting Jeff Ho: A Look Behind the Legend of the Z-Boys

Painting Jeff Ho was an experience I didn’t fully appreciate until later. At first, it was just about his interesting face and those surfboards hanging on his car. But learning about his legacy in the surf and skate world made me realize I’d captured more than just a portrait—I’d connected with a piece of history, one that still shapes Venice Beach culture. Jeff was one of the original Z-Boys, a group that revolutionized skateboarding and surfing culture in the '70s.

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Painting the Neighborhood: Life-Sized Portrait of My Studio Neighbor
figurative, figure, portraits John Robertson figurative, figure, portraits John Robertson

Painting the Neighborhood: Life-Sized Portrait of My Studio Neighbor

In my studio area, there’s always something happening. Whether it’s Luis, the tattoo artist who works nearby, or the mix of other businesses in our eclectic industrial space, the environment is always inspiring. Since moving here eight years ago, I’ve made it a habit to paint life-sized portraits of my neighbors, a project that started as a way to connect with the community. The neighborhood has changed over time, but the sense of connection through art remains strong.

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Art in Unexpected Places: My Paintings in a Celebrity Home
figurative, large-scale, portraits John Robertson figurative, large-scale, portraits John Robertson

Art in Unexpected Places: My Paintings in a Celebrity Home

A few years back, I sold two large paintings—one of a football player and another of a guy holding a hawk—to a designer in Los Angeles. At the time, I figured they’d find their way into some stylish LA home, but I never imagined they'd wind up in a house that once belonged to Kanye West.

It’s funny, but this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. I’ve seen my work pop up in TV shows and movies without my permission. That’s just the way things go sometimes in this business. It’s always a mixed bag of feelings when something like this happens.

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