About John Baran

I'm a contemporary artist and fine art photographer based in Santa Barbara, California. My work is inspired by the natural world, from the movement and energy of the ocean to the remarkable wildlife I've encountered during my travels.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have both painting and photography as creative passions. Each offers a different way of seeing and interpreting the world, and each continually inspires the other. When I find myself uninspired to paint, I can step outside, immerse myself in the ocean, or head out in search of wildlife to photograph.

Over the years, my passion for art and photography has taken me to extraordinary places, including Africa, French Polynesia, Alaska, Yellowstone, and the Hawaiian Islands. Along the way, I've experienced unforgettable encounters with wildlife, explored remarkable landscapes, and formed friendships that have enriched both my work and my life.

Photography is often the starting point for my original paintings. Working from images I've captured myself allows me to revisit those experiences and interpret them through color, texture, and composition. Whether I'm painting an elephant encountered on safari or photographing a wave in the early morning light, I'm drawn to the beauty, movement, and quiet moments that make the natural world so extraordinary.

After more than a decade as a full-time artist, I remain just as curious and inspired by the world around me. My hope is that my paintings and photographs offer more than something beautiful to look at — that they create a sense of connection to nature and perhaps inspire others to appreciate and protect it.

Every piece has a story behind it, and sharing those stories is one of my favorite parts of being an artist. Please click on the WILD ORIGNS PROJECT link for more info on this.

Thank you for taking the time to explore my work.

John

Galleries
Upstairs Pierre Lafond | Montecito, CA
Aesthetic Hawaii | Kailua, Oahu
By the Bay | Paia, Maui
Art & Soul | Santa Barbara, CA
Kathryn Designs | Montecito, CA
Cercan Global Goods | Ojai, CA

Corporate Collections
Mission Wealth Management
Disney Music Vacation House
Nuveen
Fauver, Large, Archbald & Spray, LLP
Kendall | Rhode and Associates
Goleta Vally Cottage Hospital