"I was just looking at the painting that my husband and I bought in 1966 from John when we were on our honeymoon. We were wandering the streets of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, when we saw his smal%lgallery. We went in and looked around. My husband fell in love with the painting of the large red bull, but that was too aggressive for my taste and too expensive for our budget. We were both college students in our 20's. However, as newlyweds, we felt the need to buy something important and his paintings were so lovely. We settled on a peaceful scene of the mountains, John called it "Las Tetas"... after the mountain range that resembled breasts.
"As I said we were very young (I was 20 and my husband 25) and we are African Americans. He was as intrigued by us as we were by him. We were delighted to accept his invitation for dinner at his home that evening. As I recall he prepared shrimp and we also drank some wine. When we explained our limited budget he allowed us to take the painting with the promise that we would send him $10 per month until the $300 was paid. He said only once did anyone not pay. We, of course, kept our side of the bargain and we stayed in touch for some years after it was fully paid. We enjoyed hearing about his style of painting with the pallet knife and we still love our painting. By the way we are still married. Our 59th anniversary will be later this August., 2025"
Pamela R
"I had been thinking of my old friend and mentor John when I decided to Google his name and see what I could find. I was happy to find this site which offers a good overview of his work and insights into what a wonderful human being he was. I was lucky enough to know him for about the last 10 years of his life and it was with his encouragement that I completed a sculptural portrait of him just shortly before he passed (photo to the right).
As a young sculptor he gave me my first chance to show my work professionally. Over the years he offered encouragement, critique and most treasured, friendship. It's been many years now since his passing but his giving spirit and soft humor remains with me. I think he knows that.
"
Eric Morlan
"I knew Mr John Saint John as a child. He was our neighbor in Buellton, CA and he watched me grow up. We used to have potluck block parties. He got along really well with my mother since she is Puerto Rican and he had taught art at the University of Puerto Rico. His Spanish was flawless. He was the first artist to use that technique of painting oil with the little knife. Many of his city scenes, were when he was on a boat looking back at the island of Puerto Rico. The song “Adios, San Juan” inspired him. Everybody from Puerto Rico knows that song and would all join in singing it and crying. It’s about people who leave the island and are looking back at their homeland for the last time as they sail off to the America mainland. He gave a painting of that memory to my mother.
He loved to laugh and at Puerto Rican parties would recite Bombas which are jokes in Spanish which were a little racy. He loved my mom’s arroz con pollo. He was a bachelor and loved my mom’s cooking which also reminded him of his time in Puerto Rico. He loved to eat and to laugh.
He loved to paint the Mountains above Santa Barbara in California when they were surrounded by mist from the clouds and the ocean fog. He loved the ever-changing landscapes. His palette for these were usually blues and greens. He tried to evoke a feeling of calmness. His nudes were in passion colors-oranges with yellow, and usually had a nude lady with her hair up from the back. Most of them were the same lady. Mom and Dad used to tease him that she was his long-lost love.
We used to visit his gallery on the weekends after church. He would take a landscape painting and put it on an easel. He would ask me what I saw. Then, he would turn it upside down and ask me again. We would lay this game every time I came in with different paintings. He took my opinions very seriously. He encouraged me to really observe, and feel what each painting was telling me. To use my imagination and creativity.
He had one landscape that was different from all the others. It had all the colors of the rainbow and is in his book. He said that painting was bad luck. The first two people that owned the painting died mysteriously and he said it was cursed. I told him I didn’t believe in curses. It was a beautiful oil painting full of passion. I always thought it was his best work.
He went to India and brought me back a yellow blouse and a blue skirt. He also brought gifts for my parents and sister.
His home was full of paintings in every room. He barely had anywhere to sit! His home was where he painted and also he painted outdoors. His gallery in Solvang was where he sold his work. He later moved to Santa Bárbara.
That is just a few of many memories. I knew him for 10 years."
Alison G.
