John C. Traynor

Mr. Traynor’s painting style is reminiscent of some 19th century painters, and sometimes the Dutch Masters. He uses what he knows about light and color to create a certain mood in each of his paintings. Creating atmosphere is also an important element in John’s paintings. Using soft and hard edges selectively, he gives a feeling that there is air with moisture and particles surrounding the objects he is painting.

John has produced works of art from 2x3 inch miniatures to 40’x60’ murals. He is able to use his style to paint in any size. Painting outdoors on location is a prime source of inspiration and ideas for his landscapes. Smaller paintings can be finished indoors or used as studies for larger works painted solely in his studio. Still life paintings are done in his studio, and his portraits are painted on a commission basis, in his studio or at the home of the person to be portrayed. The portraits are painted in any size from head and shoulders to large group portraits.

John was born October 19, 1961. He spent his early years in Chester and Mendham New Jersey. His art studies began at Delbarton School in Morristown New Jersey; from there he went to Paier College of Art in New Haven Connecticut. He studied figure painting at the Art Students League of New York, as a merit scholar, with Frank Mason, as well as landscape painting with Mr. Mason in Vermont. Mr. Traynor studied drawing with Carroll N. Jones Jr. of Stowe, Vermont and he studied sculpture for one year with Brother Jerome Cox in Florence, Italy.

He is a member of the Hudson Valley Art Association, The Salmagundi Club of New York, The National Society of Mural Painters, and he is a Copley Master in the Copley Society of Boston.

Mr. Traynor is the recipient of over two hundred awards of merit for his art, including the Salmagundi Club Medal of Merit and Honor, the Grumbacher Gold Medal, the Robb Sagendorph award, and the Frank Dumond Memorial Award for best light and atmospheric effect in a painting. His work is enjoyed in over one thousand private and public collections in the United States and abroad, including the Passaic County College, the Patterson Historical Museum, the Ironbound Education and Culture Center, Connecticut Bank and Trust, the Sony Music Corporation, and McGraw Hill Publishers.

Mr. Traynor travels extensively painting the landscape around him. He has made eleven painting expeditions to Ireland as well as trips to Holland, Brussels, Italy, and France. 

Mr. Traynor currently resides with his family in southern New Hampshire and enjoys painting rural New England scenes.