John Makinster is an artist based in Poway, California. He received his B.A. in art from the University of Northern Iowa, and has continued his studies taking classes at San Diego City College, Mesa College, Miramar College, SDSU, and UCSD. For many years he enjoyed attending life drawing sessions at the North Park Recreation Center.
John's work career was with the San Diego Public Library Art and Music section where he was a fixture on the reference desk. This stroke of good fortune enabled John to sustain his insatiable curiosity and love of art and music, complemented by his work assisting the public with their own research on these subjects.
John's work was included in the Athenaeum Juried Shows in 2013, 2014, and 2016. The old main library branch also played host to several solo shows, along with recent shows in Carmel Valley and at the gallery at Ray Street Custom Framing. His work of late is focused on color and the area between abstract and representational. Growing up and going to school it was always "don't use pure black, don't use pure white, don't outline, don't use bright colors, don't, don't, don't! Now that I'm older I am able to disregard some of this 'well intentioned' advice and play around more. I read somewhere about color pushing the content, and that's what I wanted to explore. And living in San Diego you can't help but see color all around you."
John's work career was with the San Diego Public Library Art and Music section where he was a fixture on the reference desk. This stroke of good fortune enabled John to sustain his insatiable curiosity and love of art and music, complemented by his work assisting the public with their own research on these subjects.
John's work was included in the Athenaeum Juried Shows in 2013, 2014, and 2016. The old main library branch also played host to several solo shows, along with recent shows in Carmel Valley and at the gallery at Ray Street Custom Framing. His work of late is focused on color and the area between abstract and representational. Growing up and going to school it was always "don't use pure black, don't use pure white, don't outline, don't use bright colors, don't, don't, don't! Now that I'm older I am able to disregard some of this 'well intentioned' advice and play around more. I read somewhere about color pushing the content, and that's what I wanted to explore. And living in San Diego you can't help but see color all around you."