John  Sloane

Born and raised in the Chicago area during the 1950's and 60's, John Sloane wanted to be an artist from the time he was able to hold a pencil. At the age of four, he was filling every available scrap of paper with drawings. As he went through school, teachers were quick to recognize the boy's ability and encourage him to develop his talents. While still a teenager, he decided on a career as an illustrator.

Instead of seeking formal art training, John entered college to pursue a liberal arts degree. In his spare time, he studied the works of great American artists and illustrators, developing his skills in painting and composition. Shortly after his graduation, he began to obtain free-lance commissions and has since developed a growing loyal clientele of publishers and collectors.

After he married, John and his wife Mary Anne fulfilled their dream of purchasing and renovating an old farmhouse. "Moving to the country was the best thing we ever did", he says. "The rural environment is a wonderful inspiration to my work. I am endlessly fascinated by the kaleidoscopic beauty of the countryside through the seasons and have always had an affinity for images of traditional country life and old-fashioned ideals. When I paint a traditional farm scene or depict a buggy ride down an old country road, I feel myself in the painting, visiting an imaginary time and place where life is simple, peaceful and unhurried. A nice place to escape to!"

For a quarter of a century John has created his popular Four Seasons calendar, drawing inspiration from the rural world around him. 2011 marks the twenty-fifth edition of John Sloane's Four Seasons calendar, published by Andrews McMeel. "There will always be a painting in progress on my easel", says John. "Each painting in every calendar is truly a labor of love."