Artist Statement
"A painting should be more than just style. It should have substance, make a statement, or give rise to thought and conversation.
I appreciate all forms of art whether decorative, non-objective or representational. My preference is to use my artistic skills to bring an awareness of the beauty that surrounds us and the environment that we take for granted.
I paint only subjects or experiences that I have personally encountered and strive to share the emotions that I feel about the subject as eloquently and creatively as possible.
My goal is to share with others what my eyes see, my heart feels and my soul yearns to understand.”
John's love for art began in England at a very early age as he discovered the great satisfaction derived from his ability to draw and paint. His family moved to Canada when he was 11 years old where he continued developing his artistic skills eventually became an art major at H.B. Beal Tech. in London, Ontario with subsequent studies at O.C.A.D. in Toronto.
John started his artistic career as a designer/ illustrator, and after winning an international design award in his field he was recruited by a large design company in Chicago. John eventually returned to Toronto where he continued a successful career as an architectural illustrator. John worked with some of the World's leading Architects and developers, and achieved recognition in that field with “Best of the Eighties” award for his work on the World Financial Centre in New York City.
John’s ongoing passion for landscape painting was deeply influenced by many artists including Richard Schmid who’s work he was introduced to while in Chicago in the 60’s.
John currently lives in Victoria B.C. and divides his time between painting en plein-air, in the studio and sharing his artistic skills through workshops across Canada.
"The quest for eloquence in my painting is continuous. Strong design elements, an appropriately chosen colour palette, spontaneous brush work and underlying luminosity are key elements that allow me to share with others what I see and feel."
Curriculum Vitae
Associate Member of Federation of Canadian Artists. A.F.C.A.
Signature member of (The Ontario Society of Artists) O.S.A
Honorary Signature member of ( International Plein Air Painters.) Hon. I.P.A.P.
Co-Founder of Plein-Air Canada.
Art major at Beal Tech in London Ontario and studied at Ontario College of Art in Toronto.
Worked as graphic designer and illustrator in Toronto, Montreal and Chicago.
35 years as free-lance architectural illustrator working with some of the world’s leading architectural firms on
projects in Canada, United States, Germany, China, Thailand, Ukraine and the Middle East.
Awards, Publications, Commissions and Exhibits
Upon return from High Arctic with Arctic Quest 2006 expedition participated in group shows at Win Henstock Gallery, Oakville Ontario. The Linkway Gallery, Toronto. Ontario. Gallery on the Grand, Waterloo. Ontario.
Arts & Letters Club. Toronto. Ontario.
Exhibited at TOAS for five years. Niagara on the Lake and California.
Artwork exhibited at the London Regional Art / Historic Museum for “Bealart: 80 years of Experiment” 1998
Artwork published in “Architecture in Pen and Ink” 1995
Artwork published in “The Art of Architectural Illustration” 1994
Exhibited artwork in the “Art of Architecture” show at the Arts and Letters Club, Toronto.1992
Commissioned to paint watercolour of Osgoode Hall for Weir and Foulds solicitors, Toronto. 1990
Commissioned to do painting of the “Orient Express” Zurich, Switzerland. 1990
The ‘Best of the 80’s” Award for artwork done on the World Financial Center, New York. N.Y. 1989
First Grand International Award for NESA Chicago, Illinois 1961
Hon. Mention Latham Foundation International Humane poster contest while attending art school. 1959
Teaching & Instruction
Taught painting and Drawing at Centennial College for GAS program and Architectural Presentation at Warden Woods and Progress Campus, Toronto. 1980 - 1982
Conducted Watercolour Workshops and Presentation Techniques at McMichael Gallery - Kleinberg, Ontario, for Neonex International
Conducted numerous workshops in watercolour and oils at Newmarket School of Fine Art as well as art groups in Guelph, Aurora and Richmond Hill, Ontario
Conducted private watercolour and oil painting workshops on Toronto Islands
Organized Historic Tour and watercolour workshops at the St. Lawrence Market area, Toronto
Organized sketching tour for participants of ASAP (American Society of Architectural Perspectivists) convention - Toronto, 1992
Conducted slide show and workshop for students and staff at Manatee Community College - Bradenton, Florida 1994
Co-produced six watercolor demonstration videos with Martin Pryce for Rogers Community television - 1995
Assisted Raymond Pryce (RSAD Grad) in illustration demo for RSAD Interior Design students - 1996
Co-founder of Plein-Air Canada
Conducted watercolor workshops at Pryce Studios, in The Historic Distillery District - Toronto 2003/2004
Regional editor for “Fine Art Connoisseur” - West Palm Beach, Florida
Organized Paint-out for Plein-Air Canada in Oakville - August 2007
Numerous demos and workshops for local art groups throughout 2008
Plein-Air workshop on Quadra Island British Columbia - September 2008
Numerous demos, workshops and jurying for local art groups (ongoing)
Conducts local weekly art classes in oil and acrylic painting (ongoing)
Summer art teaching for Loyalist College - Belleveville, Ontario - June 2009, 2010,,2011
Plein-Air teaching for Loyalist College - Bridgewater Ontario - August 2009
Conducted plein-air workshop Gibsons B.C. - July 2010
Participant in Door County invitational paint-out - Door County Wisconsin - July 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Conducted plein-air workshops Haliburton School of the arts - August 2010, 2011, 2012
Conducted plein-air workshops for Loyalist College - Amherst Island - Aug 2011
Conducted plein-air workshop - Algoma Ontario - September 2010, 2011
International Plein Air Painters Artists Organization Worldwide 
John Stuart Pryce
Honorary Signature Member
International Plein Air Painters Artists Organization Worldwide Est. 2001
