The health of the eye seems to demand a horizon. We are never tired, so long as we can see far enough.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
John McClanahan is most at ease with a paintbrush in hand, and he spends his days in his East Dallas studio living out his need to put paint on paper. His paintings offer a collection of bold color and expressive line where sky meets earth. His work has always been about the subject matter landscape with hopes the viewer can feel the earth beneath their feet as they absorb each piece. McClanahan’s career spans over six decades and his creative work has been exhibited regionally and nationally in more than 200 exhibitions. McClanahan has a rich history of residing in Central Texas and being a part of Baylor University from 1976 to 2010, where Professor McClanahan served most of that time as Chair of the Art Department. He was also founding Director of the Allbritton Art Institute. Prior to Baylor, he held positions at Queens College in North Carolina and Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. John McClanahan received an MFA from the University of Iowa in 1964 and a BFA from Bethany College in Kansas.
The photo above of McClanahan’s palette was taken by Hannah Lee during a 2019 Visit with her former Professor in his Dallas Studio. Lee is a fellow artist and learned from McClanahan during her Baylor undergraduate Days.
Available Work
