We are saddened to report on the passing of renowned artist John Stobart (1929-2023), who pursued his dream despite being once told, “You’re never going to put bread on the table with that kind of work.”
John was a plein air artist and an icon, known for his incredible maritime paintings.
“John was a giant, a legend, one of the most important artists of our times,” said Publisher Eric Rhoads. “He was a leader, an encourager of younger artists, and a brilliant businessman. He was known worldwide because of his PBS show WorldScape. He was a dear friend and I’ll miss him.”
John became known for his meticulous attention to detail and incredible ability to capture the atmosphere and mood of historic ports. He quickly gained a reputation as one of the best in his field and was soon exhibiting his paintings in galleries throughout North America and Europe.
Over the course of his career, he received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the art world and in addition to his artistic achievements, John was a generous philanthropist.
In Plein Air Podcast Episode 149 with Eric Rhoads, John shared what he learned from a lifetime of living as an artist.
Read the full tribute for John Stobart at OutdoorPainter.com.
Donations in his memory may be made to The Stobart Foundation. The Stobart Foundation is a non-profit foundation formed with the purpose of offering support to the community of aspiring artists who share a passion for the artistic vision inspired and developed through the time-honored tradition of working directly from nature.
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