Architecture Collection

Initially the Architecture Collection was a planned series featuring a selection of famous churches from across the state. John set out to achieve a more photographic look than some contemporary representational styles, combining his love for the impressionist era with a keen eye for detail. Subsequently the collection has steadily expanded, with commissioned works as well as some from his early years.

Basilica Cathedral, Santa Fe

OIL CANVAS - 2019

Original Dimensions: 30"x40"

'My painting of the Basilica Cathedral in Santa Fe was the second of the original planned series of New Mexico churches to be completed, although it took me a while to get there. After finishing the Mission in 2012 I’d been waylaid by a variety of distractions and other subjects, so it wasn’t till seven years later that I finished it off. I'm particularly happy with the color and detail in this image and removing the road from the foreground gives it a more rustic feel, maybe like it looked in the early 20th century. The addition of two children provides some perspective, an old trick I borrowed from Bradford Washburn, but one I feel conveys the grandeur and scale of the structure. The angelic protector emerging from the storm cloud was added as a continuation of the Transitions series, although in this case I edited the cloud to make room for the character rather than accentuating the pareidolia effects hidden within.' - JDP

Magenta Evening

OIL CANVAS - 2019

Original Dimensions: 30"x40"

'One summer, a friend of mine took a photo of the Our Lady of Guadalupe church over in Tortugas at sunset, and the sky that day was unimaginable. Starting with salmon pink near the horizon, the angle of the clouds extended upwards, blending to a deep purple overhead. It was such a unique image – I’ve never really seen a sunset like that before or since - that I had to paint it. As for the building itself it’s one of the classic adobe churches, with a unique spire that blends the shape and form of a traditional European church with the New Mexico style. Overall, I’ve attempted to stay as true to the original photograph as possible, and if you look closely, you’ll see the color of the sky reflected both in the windows and on the surface of the adobe itself.' - JDP

The Mission

OIL CANVAS - 2012

Original Dimensions: 30"x40"

'Compared to other churches in the state, the St. Joseph Apache Mission Church in Mescalero isn’t that old, so I painted it for personal reasons, not for its historical or cultural relevance. I used to pass it every day on my way to work and was always amazed at the contrast with its surroundings, reminiscent of old European churches and cathedrals. It’s also the only church in the world to display an Apache icon, with Jesus depicted as a Mescalero holy man. My original intention was to create details to show the beauty of the building, and I was very satisfied when it was done. As a result, the original canvas continues to remain as part of my personal collection.' - JDP

The Cabin

OIL CANVAS - 2018

Original Dimensions: 28"x30"

'The cabin in West Virginia was originally taken on as a private commission. It's a fairly typical building for this part of the country, with its stone chimney and wooden frame hidden in a forest clearing. The daylight side is similar to the others in the series, combining Impressionism with realistic detail, however in my opinion the blacklight side came out particularly well. I managed to find a neon that was completely invisible on the daylight side, but showed up blue with the blacklight, so I used it to paint a layer of moonlit snow on the canvas. This helped create a seamless transition between the two, and while it's the only image in the series that features my vertical drilling technique, overall, it’s one of my favorite blacklights.' - JDP

Mescalero Barn

OIL CANVAS - 1999

Original Dimensions: 36"x30"

'The painting of the barn was actually the first one I created in this collection. At the time I was mostly concerned with painting landscapes, but I stumbled across the barn while driving through the Mescalero Reserve and was immediately intrigued by it. I really liked the contrast between the colors of the cabin and the summer vegetation, so I stopped and took a photo that I could go home and paint. I’ve included it in this collection because, even though it’s one of my earliest works, I still feel that the detail and the colors are among my best. To me, it's also a reminder of a bygone era, a forsaken remnant of the American Dream.' - JDP