Original watercolor painting by well-known Haines artist, John Svenson.

Image size: 15" x 22"

About the Artist: John Svenson

I arrived in Haines Alaska to work for Alaskan Indian Arts in 1968 to study totem pole carving, engraving & silk screening. Being a young watercolorist from California I was heavily influenced by the regional "Masters" approach to applying paint to paper, very wet & impressionistic avoiding detail through swift action, though bold and representational at the same time. Having grown up in an art environment, my wife, (also an artist) & I founded the "Extreme Dreams" studios and fine art gallery in Haines. This business not only represented our art but our mt. guiding activities spanning 40 years. As time went by I began experimenting with a medium that was as far from holding a paint brush as I could get, molten glass. I found I could produce a watercolor effect with "frit" (colored powders) and fuse multiple layers to essentially make a painting. I attended classes at The Pilchuck School of Glass in Northern Washington. Since then hot glass, in addition to painting, has become a passion that increases with every project, opening endless worlds of possibilities.

They say a photo is worth 1,000 words. My life of art and adventure has been and still is, a wild ride. In both fields, memorable projects and great relationships have developed over the years. Alaska is home and the outer fringes of human habitation, my palette. Mountain Guide Lee Harrell was my mentor. He stressed safety first and could be ruthless if our minds strayed from the fact, death, or worse, could come because of a brainless movie. I am alive today because of his patience, which I've since learned, is essential when guiding. And then there was my introduction to the art world, long, long before coherency. I'm here with my father in his studio, he was already a very accomplished and successful sculptor. During these young years, I was already leaning towards flat art, painting was more "mobile".