Encouraged by the wealth of landscape and artistic interpretation in the Bay Area, and with such early experiences as Van Gogh's exhibition at De Young Museum in San Francisco; John Poon's appreciation of fine art emerged at an early age. A childhood full of drawing and painting foreshadowed an artistic future.
He attended and graduated from the Academy of Art College (AAC) in San Francisco, winning numerous student awards and scholarships. After graduation, John accepted the AAC's offer to remain at the college as an instructor of painting and drawing, eventually serving as Director of Foundations overseeing all Freshmen Drawing, and Color and Design classes.
His numerous professional awards and honors include "Best of Show" for The Society of Western Artists in 1999; Oil Painters of America Annual National Juried Exhibition in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002; Arts for the Parks Annual National Juried Exhibition in 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2004 including the "Landscape Award of Merit" in 1999; The Artist Magazine, finalist in the 1999 and 2001 Annual National Juried Competition; and the Sonoma Plein Air, "Artist Choice Award". His paintings can be found in numerous private collections across the country.
