John McConnell was born in Pittsfield , Massachusetts in 1948. He earned a B.A. degree in English at Michigan State University , followed by a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University . A practicing architect, he has devoted himself to oil painting since 1990, specializing in traditional landscape painting. He studied portrait painting with David Lowrey and landscape painting with Dennis Sheehan, both members of the Guild of Boston Artists. With the latter, he developed his love of late 19 th century American “ Brown School ,” Luminist and Tonalist landscape painters, such as George Inness and Alexander Wyant.
John's paintings are representational, and usually depict special qualities of light, atmosphere, or sky-moods in different seasons, often towards early morning or late in the day. He uses his art to investigate a natural world he finds charged with spiritual values. For him, the urge to create art starts with a perception of beauty in the presence of nature. This strong emotion then compels an attempt to create an image that can reawaken the same feeling, both for himself and for others.
In addition to his painting, John is a principal of McConnell+Partners Architects Inc in Boston , specializing in residential and small-scale institutional and commercial design. He is adjunct professor of American Architectural history at Boston College, a lecturer in architectural history at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and a Lecturer-in-residence for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Finally, he is a Director of the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, Massachusetts, where he resides.

"A Lake Twilight"
oil, 10"x14"

"A Tumbled-Down Wall"
oil, 22"x28"

"Autumn on the Saco River"
oil, 22"x28"

"Beside a Frozen Lake"
oil, 8"x10"

"Allegheny Sunrise"
oil, 8"x10"

"Berkshire Pastorale"
oil, 10"x14", SOLD

"Last Rays"
oil, 6 1/4"x 14"

"Dawn, Charles River at Medfield"
oil, 24"x36"

"Rainy Day, Ipswich Marsh"
oil, 9"x12"

"Our New England Woods"
oil, 30"x30"

"L'Heure Bleue"
oil, 11"x14"

"Sunset, Great Meadows"
oil, 24"x36"

"Sunrise"
oil, 24"x36"

"Summer Day Along the River"
oil, 20"x30"

"The Close of Day"
oil, 8"x10"

"Late October, Berkshires"
oil, 18"x24"

"Path Over the Hill"
oil, 10"x14"

"Spring; Willow and Apple Trees"
oil, 9"x12"

"Summer Sunset"
oil, 14"x18"

"Farm Pond in Summer"
oil, 16"x20"

"Apple Bloom, Bolton"
oil, 10"x8"

"Evening Pastorale"
oil, 8"x10"

"July, Close of Day"
oil, 9"x12"

"Late Summer Evening"
oil, 8"x10"

"New Leaves"
oil, 18"x24"

"Spring Showers"
oil, 8"x10"

"Summer Storm Clearing"
oil, 12"x24"

"Summer Storm"
oil, 8"x10"