That passion, and compassion, gives John Buxton’s historical paintings a strength, even majesty, that his earlier commercial work may not havepossessed. Having received his degree from the Art Center School in Pasadena, California, he lived in Pennsylvania and illustrated other people’s work while savoring the history of his home state. But after working with the book division of The National Geographic Society, it came time to start thinking about leaving editorial illustration for something more personal. Finally, it was the power of choosing his own subjects which helped Buxton take the major step into fine art.

"I left the commercial field to paint the history of Western Pennsylvania," he says. Living there, in the rolling hills, he heard the echo of all that had taken place, "as it influenced our young America of the 18th century. It happened right here in my backyard, so to speak." His long developed technique, combined with his renewed enthusiasm, couldn’t help but speak to viewers, for whom he helped make history come alive.