The Studio Journal

The Wrangler — oil on canvas by John Wellington, western cowboy painting in a room setting

Why I Paint From Reference Photos (And What I A...

Every oil painting I make starts with a reference photo. Almost none of them end there.

Why I Paint From Reference Photos (And What I A...

Every oil painting I make starts with a reference photo. Almost none of them end there.

Cowgirl — oil on canvas by John Wellington

The Woman in the Hat: What I Was Really After W...

Quiet confidence is harder to paint than it looks. Here's what I was actually going for with Cowgirl — the color, the mood, and what 'California West' really means.

The Woman in the Hat: What I Was Really After W...

Quiet confidence is harder to paint than it looks. Here's what I was actually going for with Cowgirl — the color, the mood, and what 'California West' really means.

Angus — oil on canvas by John Wellington

Why People Who Love Yellowstone Keep Buying Wes...

Something shifted with western art, and it’s not subtle. Here’s a painter’s take on what’s actually driving the moment.

Why People Who Love Yellowstone Keep Buying Wes...

Something shifted with western art, and it’s not subtle. Here’s a painter’s take on what’s actually driving the moment.

Sweet Pea — oil painting by John Wellington

What I Was After With Sweet Pea, a Cow Portrait...

Most cow paintings are decorations. Sweet Pea is a portrait, and there's a real difference. Here's what went into it.

What I Was After With Sweet Pea, a Cow Portrait...

Most cow paintings are decorations. Sweet Pea is a portrait, and there's a real difference. Here's what went into it.

Angus — oil on canvas by John Wellington

The Only Formula That Actually Works in the Studio

People always ask what I paint to make things sell. I don't have a formula. What I've learned is that the only work that ever connects is the work I...

The Only Formula That Actually Works in the Studio

People always ask what I paint to make things sell. I don't have a formula. What I've learned is that the only work that ever connects is the work I...

Rocky Beach — oil on canvas by John Wellington

What the August Lunar Eclipse Looks Like to a P...

The lunar eclipse had everyone grabbing their phones. I went outside and just looked. What I noticed has me thinking about light differently.

What the August Lunar Eclipse Looks Like to a P...

The lunar eclipse had everyone grabbing their phones. I went outside and just looked. What I noticed has me thinking about light differently.