John Schisler

John Schisler was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1972.  He began painting at the Conrad Miller Studio in Fells Point, Maryland at the age of 17.  At the Conrad Miller Studio, John studied the use of Maroger Mediums and the techniques of the Dutch Masters through the teaching of Nancy Lee Conrad and Melvin Miller who were both students of Jacques Maroger.

He learned to make and use ‘black oil’, which is used as a basis for the mediums of such masters as Titian, Rubens, and Rembrandt.  The advantage of this medium is the ability to obtain the qualities of color, shadow, and brilliance found only in their paintings. 

His style is classical/contemporary realism. Keeping with the tradition of the old masters, he makes the black oil that is then used to make medium as well as oil paint by mixing with powdered pigments. 

In early 2011, John began to pursue a full-time career in art. 

In 2018, John began to expand from just still life painting. He had a desire to test his skills at plein air painting and in 2020 he was juried into Plein Air Easton, one of the most prestigious events in the country.