John Lewis - US Civil Rights GOOD TROUBLE Painting

“With every brush stroke and drop of paint, I’m breathing life into my feelings, and putting them onto canvas. And it’s this emotional energy in my paintings, that I share with you.” As a child, I drew on everything, even encyclopedias (I got in BIG trouble for that!). My creative passion eventually led me to collaborate with renowned names like Warner Brothers and the Dali Museum. I loved bringing others’ visions to life, until one day I felt a deep yearning to create art that reflected my own ideas. That aching feeling inspired me to leave corporate America and pursue my art full-time. Today, I’m a mixed media artist painting modern abstracts, and portraits. My style spans impressionism, pop art, and expressive works, that are often layered with words, marks, and symbols. Some of my heavily textured pieces carry emotional depth, as I aim to explore my fascination with life and the celebration of it. My work is bold, colorful, and profoundly personal. My inspiration comes from how I see the world—chaotic, layered, and ever-changing, much like my ADHD mind. I rarely stick to a single theme at a time, instead embracing an “out-of-sequence” approach to my creative process. Eventually, I circle back to form a cohesive series. This intuitive and unpredictable method is how I create meaningful and authentic art, keeping my work fresh and dynamic. I live in Sonoma County, California, with my wife of 26 years. We share our home with Ziggy, a rescued Cocker-Dachshund mix, and Annie, our spirited tortoiseshell cat. “Art is deeply personal and unique to each of us. It's a way to celebrate our true selves, especially in a world that often pushes us to fit into neat little boxes.”