John Malley, painter
 |
| O-013 Desert Landscape_ by _ John Malle wc 9x12 $125 |
 |
| O-014 Guardian Of The Moors_ by _ John Malleywc 11x15 $175 |
 |
| O-016 Canyons_ by _ John Malley wc 11x15 $175 |
Decades of long haul truck driving through the
deserts, forests, and mountains of the western United States does something to
a person. In John Malley’s case, it made him want to paint.
“Whatever we do, we should try to give hope and understanding to
someone else. That’s what I want to do with painting. Just give someone a
chance to stop in their busy life and see the natural world. Even for just a
minute, I want them to feel the beauty of God’s world and help them feel
understood somehow.” - John Malley
John Malley is a husband, father and
cookie-pushing grandfather who has spent his entire life in California. He grew
up in 1950s Modjeska Canyon, on the western slope of the Santa Ana Mountains.
After a childhood spent getting into mischief in the great outdoors, his career
as a truck driver showed him the world through the large picture window of his
truck's windshield.
Sweeping views of western landscapes became more intimate as the
artist continued his outdoor childhood adventures by taking his wife and two
daughters fishing, hiking, camping, snorkeling and dirt biking. Whether from
the cab of his truck or the trails of his hikes, John Malley began to connect
the colors around him to very specific emotions. In 2016 after he retired, his
wife, Lynne Malley, suggested he attend painting
classes in Lodi, California. Even though it was likely a bid to get him out of
the house, it finally let the artist translate the emotions into color and form
and try to reach out to others through his work.
The browns and oranges of his desert landscapes translate into
comfort and soothing stability for the artist, while the greens and blues of
forests and waters show how life keeps going, healing and progressing. The
artist loves starting a blank canvas with a sketch and then layering on and
amplifying emotion with color. He hopes his paintings help others feel more
connected, understood and at peace.
