Call of the Wild (2012) Painting by John Hudson Hawke

John Hudson Hawke was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma (U.S.A.) and a year later his family moved to Victoria, Texas, where he lived for the next nineteen years of his life.

John showed early promise as an artist. When he was twelve years of age his parents enrolled him in art classes with well-known artist Simon Michael. He later took private art instruction from nationally recognized artist: Dalhart Windburg,

When John was still in high school he was winning blue ribbons and art trophies in locally held art shows. After graduating from high school John began drawing and painting full-time.

When John was 22 yrs of age he moved to Austin, Texas and began painting landscapes, still-life, seascapes, and portraits in oil, pastels and acrylics on a full-time basis. He entered many art shows and became a well-known artist throughout Texas in his early twenties. He later taught private art instruction in the Austin area for several years and gave numerous workshops and demonstrations to local art groups.

In 1982 John moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and opened an art gallery. He also managed Webb gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a couple of years, which was a nationally recognized western art gallery. In 1986 he moved to the Los Angeles area and placed his work in eight to ten well-known galleries up and down the California coast. John’s paintings can be found in the private collections of several popular politicians, movie and TV stars, and prominent business men and women. For example, John painted two portraits of Jessie Jackson when he was running for U.S. President in 1986, and the famous TV and movie actors, Al Lewis and Lloyd Nolan both bought painting from John. Mrs. Disney also purchased a couple of John’s paintings to put in her home in Beverly Hills, California. John also painted a portrait of the Texas Rose Queen in 1986. In 1990 he put his art career on hold for about ten years while he returned to school to complete his formal education. He received a BA degree in Anthropology from U.C.L.A., and later a PhD in Ancient History & Archaeology from The University of Birmingham, in Birmingham, England.

John currently lives in Shenzhen, China with his wife. Over the years John has given numerous lectures on various topics at both the Nanshan and Shenzhen libraries. In 2006 John was the presiding Chairman of ‘The International Forum of Art Dealers’ that was held in Da Fen Village. Art Dealers from over 23 countries attended this International Forum. John is currently the only foreign artist to exhibit his work in Da Fen Village. John has been interviewed numerous times by some of the leading newspapers (like the Shenzhen Daily and Special Economic Zone papers) in the Shenzhen area and is a well-known figure in the art community.

John draws much of his inspiration as an artist from studying nature and great works of art created by well-known artists such as, Fredrick Church, Percy, Leader, Albert Bierstadt, Cha...

• Nationality: UNITED STATES
• Date of birth : 1948
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary American Artists