John McKenna grew up in Norwich, VT which helped fuel his love of landscape and nature. After graduating the jazz studies program at William Paterson College in Wayne, NJ in 1989, John moved to NYC and later on to Brooklyn, where he worked on developing and honing his skills as a jazz saxophonist & artist.
In the mid 1990’s John started freelancing as an illustrator for Abrams publishing, over time drawing hundreds of architectural and figurative illustrations for many well known Abrams, McGraw Hill and Simon & Schuster art & art history books. At the same time he played gigs, recorded and toured in the U.S., Europe & Canada, playing with many great jazz musicians, among them groups led by Joe Lovano, Larry Goldings & Ron Horton. All the while developing his own drawings, refining and focusing his technique & ideas.
Currently living in Barrington, RI with his wife and son, John’s continued drawing, playing & teaching as usual, but closer to the sea and in (usually!) a quieter place.
