For the past several years, John Sloane’s paintings have been exclusively featured as jigsaw puzzles of all shapes and sizes from Bits And Pieces. John Sloane’s stunning artwork from a bygone era of Americana have adorned countless Bits And Pieces catalog covers and many have become some of the best-selling jigsaw puzzles in our history.
Our customers and followers have come to love Mr. Sloane’s artwork and the puzzles we are ultimately able to craft from his vivid, thoughtful and nostalgic paintings. He is one of our most popular artists. So, you can imagine that when he agreed to sit down with us to answer a few questions – some of which even came from our followers on social media – we were more than thrilled!
We are very excited to present this interview to you now. Enjoy!
Can you share a jigsaw puzzle memory with us?
For me, the process of painting a picture is not unlike assembling a jigsaw puzzle. I enjoy watching the picture take shape as I compose all the elements. I recall the thrill I had when I actually assembled the first jigsaw puzzle with one of my images. It reminded me of the pleasure I had in painting each detail in the original painting.
Walk us through your process from idea to finished piece.
My favorite way to find inspiration is to roam the countryside at different times of the day or year. My wife and I often put our heads together to discuss new ideas. When an imaginary scene comes to mind, I put myself into the picture and attempt to create an image that I would be happy to inhabit. I make thumbnail sketches in pencil as I develop a composition that pleases me. When I have made a detailed preliminary drawing, I then move to the larger painting surface, and I draw and paint the final concept.
What are your other hobbies besides art?
I love to read and enjoy listening to audio books and music while I paint. I also share with my wife a keen interest in photography and early American cultural history. I am fascinated by what life was like at the turn of the last century.
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What’s coming next from you?
I am always enthusiastic about my next picture. The subjects of my paintings are like mysteries that reveal themselves to me as I work. I continue to paint every day. Right now I am working on a Christmas painting.
Where do you get the inspiration for your paintings?
My inspiration comes primarily from the natural rural environment around me. I am interested in portraying the interrelationship between nature and the man-made environment. At the same time, I am enthralled by imagining what life was like in bygone days, before electricity and super highways, when life was simpler and followed the natural rhythm of the seasons.
What is your favorite part about being an artist?
My favorite part about being an artist is having the opportunity to share my paintings with the public. For me, each picture is a labor of love, and it is gratifying to be able to share this love with others.
What’s something you’re currently working on that you’re excited about?
I am always excited about the prospect of painting my next picture. Right now I am thinking ahead to the future. I am endeavoring to paint landscapes in fresh ways, utilizing new colors, sunrises, sunsets and the nuances of the atmosphere at different times of the day or year. I also take great pleasure in creating interesting interior subjects, such as traditional barn interiors or old-fashioned farmhouse rooms. At the same time I look for an opportunity to include a bit of humor and human interest whenever I can.
Have you ever done a puzzle with your art on it? What is that experience like?
Yes, I do enjoy assembling puzzles that feature my artwork. Our local public library has set aside a special table for patrons to join in working on my puzzles. Nothing gives me more pleasure than being able to work on my puzzles together with library patrons who aren’t aware that I am the artist!
What draws you to the subjects you paint?
I have an affinity for what life was like in the past. I think this special interest must have come about from listening to stories my parents told me about what it was like growing up in the early years of the twentieth century, living through the Great Depression and the war years. Also, I have fond memories of spending idyllic summer vacations on the farm of family friends when I was a boy. These early impressions inspired me with a desire to capture and preserve ideal images of a vanishing American heritage.
How does it make you feel to see the art you’ve created be pieces together by jigsaw puzzlers?
I am thrilled to see my pictures come to life through the dedicated efforts of puzzlers. I love to view photos of the finished puzzles that are posted on social media and can appreciate the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that come from completing a puzzle.
What does a day in the life of an artist look like for you?
I rise early and take my dog for a long walk before breakfast. Some of my best ideas come to me while I am out walking. There is always a painting in progress on my easel. I work on and off at a leisurely pace throughout the day. Fortunately, at this stage in my career, I don’t have pressing deadlines to meet. This allows me to spend as much time as necessary painting the smallest details of each picture. For me, painting is not work but what I do for pleasure. I think I must be the luckiest man in the world!
Click here to shop all of John Sloane’s Jigsaw Puzzles