Statement
Sculpture is the focus of my art practice. I prefer to work as a direct carver of wood and stone because the process feels intuitive to me. The material offers me something to respond to. I'm influenced by art that appears to be a collaboration with natural objects. The notion that I might be leaving some of my energy or influence inside a form that already carries its own history inspires my process.
I'm committed to the craftsmanship of carving as a way to develop my artistic voice. Welcoming opportunities to invite my personal experiences and sensitivities of time and place. I want to create art that invites the viewer into a visual meditation, reminding them of the mysteries of nature.
Bio
John grew up in the rural Eastern Washington town of Dayton. Early on, painting and drawing where encouraged from his father who is an accomplished watercolor artist, strohbehn.com. In 2006 he graduated with a fine arts degree from Western Washington University with a focus on painting. During college John worked as a graphic designer for a fabrication company that made themed architectural elements and signage. He continued down this path until moving to Hawaii in 2009 where he worked as a graphic designer and sign maker.
In 2012 John met sculptor Bruce Turnbull who inspired him to try sculpture. It was through sculpture that he found his muse as an artist. The process of direct carving raw forms of wood and stone provided him a way of creating that felt intuitive. John's work has been shared in galleries, exhibitions, private commissions and the permanent collection of the State of Hawaii.
In 2019 John and his wife moved back to the Pacific Northwest after the eruption of Kilauea displaced them from their residence in Hawaii. Now residing in Sequim, Washington he continues expanding his studio practice and the adventure that is life and art.