There is something reassuring about people who eventually find their way back to what they loved as children. For artist John Notham, that journey took a few decades.
This month, visitors to Oolong Gallery in the heart of Rancho Santa Fe Village will have the opportunity to watch that journey continue. Notham will spend June as artist-in-residence at the gallery, developing a new body of work while inviting the public into the creative process. The residency kicks off with an opening reception on Saturday, June 6, from 5 to 8 p.m., complete with libations, conversation, and a chance to meet the artist behind the paintings.
Nestled among the shops and restaurants of the Village, Oolong Gallery has become a destination for those who appreciate contemporary art and thoughtful craftsmanship. Throughout the month, gallery visitors will be able to observe Notham’s work as it evolves, offering a rare glimpse into the often-private world of an artist at work.
Notham’s paintings are rooted in familiar scenes: coastal light, marinas, quiet roads, weathered buildings, and solitary figures caught in moments of reflection. His work feels distinctly American, evoking the kind of places we drive past every day but rarely stop long enough to truly see.
A Lifelong Passion Finds Its Audience
Born into a large working-class family in Wisconsin, Notham showed artistic talent early on. Like many practical Midwestern families, however, his path leaned toward stability rather than studio life. He earned a business degree, built a successful thirty-year career, and kept painting on the side.
Fortunately for art lovers, he never stopped.
For decades, painting served as a refuge from deadlines, meetings, and the demands of corporate life. What began as a creative outlet gradually evolved into a serious artistic practice. Today, Notham paints full-time, approaching each canvas with the patience and confidence that come from a craft developed over a lifetime.
His influences include familiar names such as Claude Monet, Andrew Wyeth, and Edward Hopper. Hopper’s presence is particularly easy to spot. Like Hopper, Notham seems fascinated by light, silence, and the stories that unfold in the spaces between people. Some of his most compelling recent works feature lone figures in bars, roadside buildings, and transitional spaces that feel as though a movie scene might begin – or end – at any moment. The paintings hint at narrative without fully explaining themselves, inviting viewers to fill in the blanks.
What makes Notham’s work especially appealing is its accessibility. You don’t need an art history degree to appreciate it. The paintings are atmospheric, thoughtful, and grounded in recognizable places and emotions. For Rancho Santa Fe residents, the residency offers a chance to experience a working artist’s process without leaving the Village – a reminder that creativity and culture can thrive alongside coffee shops, boutiques, and everyday errands.
Visitors to Oolong Gallery, this month won’t just see finished paintings on a wall. They’ll have the opportunity to watch an artist continue a conversation he started many years ago – one brushstroke at a time. Oolong Gallery is located at 6030 La Flecha in Rancho Santa Fe.