about the painter
biography
john loris knapp is a self-taught oil painter based in brooklyn, new york. he works primarily in still life and landscape, painting from direct observation in the studio and on location. his work centers on atmosphere and light more than structure—evoking a sense of stillness, subtlety, and time. influenced by painters like chardin, corot, courbet, monet, pissarro, and cézanne, he works slowly and attentively, seeking out quiet subjects that reward sustained looking. originally from pennsylvania, he now lives and works in new york city.
artist statement
i work in oil on panel, wood, paper, and often unstretched canvas. my paintings are observational and rooted in direct experience. i work from life—sometimes quickly, in response to a fleeting quality of light—and sometimes slowly, returning to the same subject over many sessions. my focus is less on form than on atmosphere: the particular light in a room, the mood of a certain day, the feeling of a place held still for a moment. whether i’m painting a collection of objects, fruit, or a landscape, i’m looking for what the light reveals—not just visually, but emotionally. i’m drawn to the paintings of the past, and to the quiet act of looking. i try to paint what it's like to be in a place, at a particular time, when the light feels meaningful.
