John Cannon

John Cannon is a Nashville native, growing up in East Nashville.  He graduated from Belmont College with a BA in English in 1974.  From 1975 to 1978, he studied art at the University of Tennessee, Nashville.  John left art and returned to literature, earning a Master’s Degree in Literature from Middle Tennessee State University in 1980.

            After a brief stint in education, John entered the Nashville School of Law in 1982.  He graduated and was admitted to the Tennessee bar in 1985. 

            The desire to create images continued, however. In October 2001, while moving to a new house, John discovered an old paint set and equipment.  Thinking it would be fun to do something to decorate the new house, he began painting again.  The love of the visual image came flooding back. 

            Following several months reacquainting himself with the paints, he began taking classes with Marion Cook, a local artist.

            John’s philosophy of art is straightforward: “Painting, the use of color, value and shading, seems to be the best way of all the arts to convey an emotional image to the audience.  The expression in color of the artist’s individual impression of a subject is incredibly intimate.  Viewing a work of art, in any medium or style, is the most direct way to experience the internal landscape of another human being.  Art, therefore, for me, is a visceral sharing experience.”

            “In this view of art, the artist becomes both the performer and the performance, and the receptive viewer shares the moment’s vision with the artist.  Though transient, the shared vision is a complete experience of the human connectedness.”

 John has retired from the practice of law and is now a full time artist.  He currently works from his home studio in East Nashville, and does commission work.  He specializes in pet portraits, but also does people portraits, house portraits, landscapes and other commission pieces.

COMMISSIONS:

The portrait commission process is as simple as emailing your pet’s name and 5-6 close up photos, preferably taken in natural lighting. Feel free to let us know a bit about your pet’s personality, as well! 

Each artist has a variety of portrait sizes from which to choose. The artist will guide you through the process to your completed portrait and send you progress photographs along the way.

To have John create a portrait of your sweet friend, click the button below to begin.