John Pototschnik, 1946 ~ Plein air painter

'My artistic influences are diverse, ranging from the Barbizon painters of Corot, Daubigny and Millet to the American tonalist, George Inness. I believe all I need to know of the principles of art are to be found in the works of the masters. My paintings are not flamboyant, mysterious, trendy or shocking but I am interested in depicting the truth about life, as I see it, in a naturalistic way free of frills and bravado. I enjoy depicting simple, common, everyday life and its objects as things of beauty and worth. I intend to show the dignity and value of the subjects I paint – just as my artistic influences have. Through continued hard work I want to give to society paintings that transcend the culture and it’s ever changing tastes. . . paintings that speak to the heart' - John Pototschnik.

British-born American painter John Pototschnik (Poe-toe-sh-nick) was born in St. Ives, Cornwall, England but grew up in Wichita, Kansas. He received his art training at Wichita State University in advertising design, followed by instruction in illustration and design at Art Center College in Los Angeles. Most recently he has studied human anatomy at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

In 1982, Pototschnik began painting professionally in the fine arts. Prior to that, he worked as a freelance illustrator for ten years with many of Dallas’ major advertising agencies and companies.

Since beginning his fine art career, Pototschnik has become a popular speaker and juror among art organizations. His paintings are in many private collections from Hawaii to Rhode Island and also in several public collections including : cities, banks, corporations and museums.

Pototschnik resides in Wylie, Texas with his wife Marcia. They have two grown sons. He is a past president of Artists and Craftsmen Associated and the Plano Art Association.

John Pototschnik has been honored with four George Washington Honor Medals from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, the John Steven Jones Fellowship, plus many other regional and national awards.

He is recognized in “Who’s Who in American Art” and “Who’s Who in the Southwest”.

His work has appeared in “First”, “The Artist’s Magazine”, “Southwest Art”, “American Artist”, “PleinAir Magazine”, “American Art Collector” and “International Artist”, plus six books…”The Best of Portrait Painting”, “200 Great Painting Ideas for Artists” and “Expressing the Visual Language of the Landscape”, “100 Ways to Paint Landscapes”, “100 Ways to Paint Flowers and Gardens”, and “100 Ways to Paint Seascapes, Rivers and Lakes”.

He is an Art Renewal Center Associate Living Master and a signature member of the Oil Painters of America and the Outdoor Painters Society.