John was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and has resided in California for over 40 years, with his studio located in Carmel since 2009. His work consistently reflects the influence of the ocean and the surrounding environment, whether through activities such as surfing or sailing on the water, or hiking through coastal redwoods adjacent to cliffs descending to breaking waves. John's early studies were at the Honolulu Academy of Art, where he participated in several group exhibitions. He pursued university education at Santa Clara University, serving as the editorial cartoonist for the campus newspaper, and graduated with a major in finance and a minor in fine arts. He subsequently obtained an MBA from the Haas School of Business. Although John continuously engaged in art creation throughout his finance career, it is only in the past six years that he has devoted himself exclusively to painting. Painting, particularly abstract themes, is an exploratory process for John. While numerous sketches and renderings may precede the actual work on canvas, the painting process itself reveals surprises and new directions. Despite retaining the original theme, nuances emerge from the layering of colors and glazes or by working on heavier textured surfaces.