John McNamara

John McNamara was born in Brooklyn New York. He loved it when he had a chance at creating art while in school. He was always drawn to abstract styles of art. In Brooklyn Technical High School, he was in technical drawing classes and structural design including surveying. Although he was a good student occasionally, he would cut classes and sneak off with some friends to the many museums in the big apple, his favorite was The Museum of Modern Art. At that time in the late 60’s early 70′ s abstract style art was everywhere, and he was captivated by the many different styles. Shortly after graduating his family ” migrated ” to Phoenix Az. At that time, it was the late 70 ‘s and john “went into a state of cultural shock “he says. Jumping ahead to 2015 he started his personal journey into creating art. He was an artist at a program called Art Awakenings. The studio was geared towards behavioral health recovery, but at that time the parent company P.S.A. really used art and paid a lot of attention to hiring professional artists instructors with behavioral health credentials and also professional art directors, and curators, with behavioral health training and certifications. It was there under their tutelage his behavioral health dramatically improved, and his professional art career began. He was using acrylic paint on canvas and occasionally mixed media to make very interesting abstract paintings. There he also got to sing on a stage with a band and also did some fused glass, pottery and creative writing. He was very proud of all of his accomplishments and loved it when the public came in to view his work. He loved it even more when they stood for a while and let his paintings spark their imaginations, they saw what they saw and then discovered more. He had developed a style of fluid art and continues in that style today. He covers all forms of fluid art known and unknow continuously experimenting trying to develop more ways to keep the viewers imagination cooking. One of his friends named him “the Psychedelic Shepard ” Currently john’s work can still be seen at 1005 n 1 street from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday, and until 9pm on the First Friday event famous in the phoenix metropolitan area. He is also the artist in residence at Mifan Claypot Kitchen located at 1616 north central ave. suite 102 phoenix az.85004, in the muse apartment building across the street from The Phoenix Art Museum.