About
John Alan has spent his career working at a scale most artists never attempt — cathedrals, museums, and grand residences and public spaces — and at the intimate scale that makes a home feel like no one else's. Each project begins not with a brush but with a conversation: about light, about message, about history, about what a space is meant to feel like when it is finally complete.
His practice spans fresco, mosaic, mural, and sculpture. He has collaborated with architects, preservation specialists, and private clients across the country, bringing to each commission the same rigorous attention to craft and the same fundamental belief: that art made for a specific place, by a specific hand, is irreplaceable.
That belief extends beyond the wall. As a Master Certified Professional Coach, John also designs art experiences for groups, teams, and individuals — guided sessions that use making as a way into connection, creativity, and clarity.
Based in Santa Fe, NM. Working everywhere.
Selected Work
A selection of commissions across four decades. All work is site-specific, all materials are chosen for longevity, and every project begins with a conversation.
Clients & Recognition
Clients
Recognition
Bespoke Services
Every commission starts with a site visit and an extended conversation. John spends time understanding not just the architecture but the life lived inside it — how light moves through the rooms, what the client loves, what they want to feel when they walk through the door. The design process is genuinely collaborative, and no two projects are alike.
From that foundation, he develops a proposal that integrates seamlessly with the existing architecture. Whether the work is a single painted panel or a room-spanning fresco, it is conceived as part of the building — not applied to it. Materials are selected for longevity. Techniques are chosen for the specific conditions of the space.
The result is work that does not announce itself. It simply belongs. Clients often say the same thing: it looks as though it has always been there.
Workshops & Experiences
Some of the best things happen when people make something together. John designs art experiences for all kinds of groups — a relaxed evening with wine and cheese, a bridal party, a team that needs a fresh way to connect, or individuals working through something personal. Experience how art can get you somewhere words don’t.
John holds a professional coaching certification and advanced training in group therapy methodology. He weaves together creativity coaching, group dynamics, and problem-solving into experiences that are genuinely fun and quietly transformative. Adults, teenagers, corporate teams, community groups — the work meets people where they are.
Programs
A relaxed, guided art-making evening — wine, cheese, good company, and something to take home. No experience needed. These work beautifully for friend groups, date nights, neighborhood gatherings, or anyone who just wants a creative night out.
Outcomes
Bridal showers, bachelorette parties, milestone birthdays — art-making is a surprisingly great way to mark an occasion. Everyone participates, everyone creates something personal, and the energy in the room is unlike anything else.
Outcomes
Drawing on group therapy methodology and creativity coaching, these sessions use art-making as a vehicle for real connection, communication, and problem-solving. Teams come away with more than a painting — they come away with a different way of working together.
Outcomes
John works with established youth organizations and adult groups — not one-on-one with minors. For youth organizations, experiences are designed in partnership with group leaders. For adults, individual sessions and small groups are available, focused on personal growth, creative confidence, and self-expression through making.
Outcomes
Credentials
Contact
Whether you have a commission in mind, want to explore a designed experience for your group, or simply want to see what’s possible — John welcomes the conversation.
Call or text
505-501-9001