John Burton is an award-winning oil painter best known for his stirring and vivid depictions of the transitory beauty of our ever-changing world. He is at once tangibly influenced by the Western and Russian painters of the early twentieth century, and entirely unique in his remarkable ability to capture the profound spirituality and majesty of his surroundings. Burton has traveled and painted around the globe, always maintaining his home and artistic center in the American West. Burton’s deep American roots permeate the rich, natural character of his art, and inform his work’s reverent tone..

Selected Awards and Honors

2014 Gold Medal and Irvine Museum Award at the 103rd Gold Medal Exhibition at the Autry Museum, Pasadena, CA
2014 Keynote Speaker at 4th Annual Plein Air Expo and Convention, Monterey, CA
2014 Keynote Speaker Crystal Cove Alliance Artist Reception, Crystal Cove, CA
2014 A Grand Award Winner, Raymar Art Painting Competion, Phoenix, AZ
2014 Judge Carmel Plein Air Fine Art Festival
2013 Best of Show Bold Brush International Painting Competition
2013 Keynote Speaker Laguna Plein Air Painters Reception, Laguna Beach, CA
2012 Randy Higby Gallery Award 14th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2012 Plein Air Magazine Award 14th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2012 Laguna Canyon Foundation Award 14th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2011 First Runner Up in the American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition, Carmel, CA
2011 Seascape of Distinction at the Oil Painters of America 20th National Exhibition, Coeur d’Alene, ID
2010 Best of Show and Artist Choice Award 12th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2007 Grand Prize and Artist Choice Torrey Pines Plein Air Invitational, San Diego, CA
2006 Carmel Art Festival Plein Air Competition, Honorable Mention
2006 Artist Choice Award, Wild, Wild West Plein Show, Phoenix, AZ
2005 Honored with Signature Membership Plein Air Painters of Hawaii
2005 Award for Excellence TOP 100 for “Arts for the Parks.” Jackson, WY
2005 Mentor at En Plein Air Masters, Lake Louise, Canada
2005 Artist in Residence En Plein Air Masters, Coligny, France
2004 The Award of Excellence at the Oil Painters of America 13th National Exhibition, Kirkland, WA
2004 Mentor at En Plein Air Masters, Angle Sur Anglin, France
2004 Honored with Signature Membership Oil Painters of America
2004 Best of Show at the Art Splash National Show, TX
2004 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of America Exhibition, Narrative Excellence Award, Bolivar, MO
2003 The Award of Excellence at the Oil Painters of America 12th National Exhibition, Taos, NM
2003 Best of Show at the Art Splash National Show, TX
2003 Platinum Palette Award, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of Show
2000 First place for Artist Magazine Portrait Competition