An artist, television show host and widely recognized online celebrity, California-based American painter John Kilduff is known for his distinctive style, which can be described as a merge of Impressionism and Pop art. His paintings offer a lighthearted and relatable look at contemporary life, and feature everything from beach hats and sneakers to soup cans and beer bottles.
In 1987, Kilduff earned his BFA from the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. He also studied comedy at The Groundlings Theatre & School and the Los Angeles City College, in addition to getting his MFA from UCLA in 2008.
Kilduff came into the spotlight in 2001 when he began hosting a cable-access television show called Let's Paint TV, calling himself "Mr. Let's Paint." The show's live episodes typically involve Kilduff painting while he performs other activities, like playing ping pong, running on a treadmill or cooking. In 2006, he began uploading clips of the show to YouTube, which garnered worldwide attention. The series is now broadcast online.
Kilduff has made numerous other television appearances over the years, including the Tyra Banks Show, where he painted Banks’s portrait live. In 2006, he painted David Hasselhoff on the red carpet of the VH1 Big Awards and also appeared on season two of America's Got Talent.
Ever the entertainer, Kilduff frequently holds in-person painting shows. In 2016, a show called "Bakery" at the Daniel Rolnik Gallery in Santa Monica was designed to mimic the look of a small pastry shop and, as Kilduff created paintings of a range of sweet treats for the event, it earned comparisons to the works of sculptor Claes Oldenburg and Wayne Thiebaud.
Kilduff lives and works in Los Angeles.
On 1stDibs, find original John Kilduff oil paintings, watercolor works and more.
My fish tank, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I always liked the idea of a painting of a fish tank, as you don't have to ever clean it. Spray paint, acrylic and oil on canvas. :: Painting :: Surrealism :: This piece comes with a...
Oil
Under curfew in Puerto Rico #2, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air watercolor painted while under curfew in Caguas, Puerto Rico in March 2020. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity si...
Watercolor
MC Escher Car Chase, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Painting of a car chase in Los Angeles with a little MC Esher influence. Oil, spray paint and acrylic on canvas. :: Painting :: Contemporary :: This piece com...
Oil
My train collection, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Large oil painting of a train collection. :: Painting :: Fine Art :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed...
Oil
Planes landing into Burbank 4-4-22, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
On April 4, 2022 I painted the airplanes landing into Burbank airport from my backyard. 25 canvas panels mounted on a wood frame. :: Painting :: Contemporary :: This piece comes with...
Oil
My Japanese model railroad collection, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This is my collection of Japanese model railroad trains that I painted from the internet. :: Painting :: Fine Art :: This piece comes with an official c...
Oil
Crow's Nest Saugatuck, MI, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air watercolor overlooking Lake Michigan from the Crow's Nest in Saugatuck, MI. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity si...
Watercolor
California Incline, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Studio painting based on my plein air paintings of the same view. Oil on canvas mounted onto wood. They call this road the California Incline as it goes down from Ocean ave to the Pa...
Oil
Airplanes at Sunset, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting was created by looking at google images on my computer. :: Painting :: Contemporary :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artis...
Oil
Matador Beach, Malibu, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting of Matador Beach in Malibu, California. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: ...
Oil
Fig Tree in Quarantine, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting of the fig tree in the backyard. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready t...
Oil
White still life, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Still life of white objects. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed: Yes ::...
Oil
BBQ Grill, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting of a BBQ grill at night. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the a...
Oil
Zuma Beach Malibu, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting of Zuma Beach in Malibu, California. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Read...
Oil
Indian Alley, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein are painting of Indian alley in Downtown Los Angeles. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authe...
Oil
Train engines, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Oil painting of train engines. :: Painting :: Americana :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to ...
Oil
Miracle Whip, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Still life of a jar of Miracle Whip. Watercolor on Arches cold pressed 140 lb watercolor paper. :: Painting :: Pop-Art :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticit...
Watercolor
Lemon Tree in quarentine, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting of the lemon tree in the backyard. :: Painting :: Fine Art :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to H...
Oil
5th and Broadway, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air (painted on location) painting of 5th and Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles. This painting won the grand prize at the Los Angeles Plein Air Festival 2018. :: Painting :: Im...
Oil
Venice Beach Hats, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
From memory of a Venice Beach boardwalk vendor selling hats. Acrylic and Spray paint used along with oil paints. :: Painting :: Contemporary :: This piece comes with an official cert...
Oil
Campbell soup cans, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I painted a series of consumer products and ended up painting the classic Campbell soup can. Oil on canvas panels mounted on a wood frame. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piec...
Oil
New York Skyline from Jersey City, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Painted on location (plein air) from Jersey City overlooking the Hudson River and New York. Painted on two sheets of Arches 140 lb cold pressed watercolor paper. :: Painting :: Impre...
Watercolor
5th and Broadway, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting of 5th and Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles. The painting is full of large bold colorful brushstrokes. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with a...
Oil
Beverly Drive Rush Hour, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting was done in the studio. Based on a plein air painting of the same view. I started the painting off using spray paint and acrylic paints and ended up using oils over mos...
Oil
Rush hour on the westside, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Rush hour on the westside of Los Angeles. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: ...
Oil
Peanuts, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Still life of a bag of peanuts. Watercolor on Arches cold pressed 140 lb watercolor paper. :: Painting :: Pop-Art :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity sig...
Watercolor
Goya's Nude Maja on a can of beans, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Painting of a famous Goya painting on a can of Goya beans. Oil and spray paint on can. :: Painting :: Pop-Art :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signe...
Oil
Fig tree in quarantine, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting (with some spray paint) of the Fig tree in the backyard during quarantine. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an off...
Oil
Lester the cat with the Hollyhocks, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This is a painting of Lester the cat. He is a feral cat that likes to hang out in the backyard. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with...
Oil
Hollyhocks on blue, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Spray paint, acrylic and oil on canvas. Painted in my backyard. :: Painting :: Pop-Art :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready ...
Oil
Under the olive tree, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I was taking photos of this hawk flying overhead and when I went to look at the photos, I saw this lovely image and thought I should paint it. Spray paint with acrylic and oil paints...
Oil
San Fransisco Victorians, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Painted this in the studio, based on a photo I took of some Victorians just a block away from Haight Street in San Francisco. This is part of a new series of paintings where I spray ...
Acrylic
Tulips in a vase, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting of tulips in a vase. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signe...
Oil
Escalator No.2, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I did this painting while running on a treadmill in my studio. I have found it resembles what it's like to paint on location (plein air). The image is of a person taking their bicycl...
Oil
Downtown Los Angeles Rooftop View, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting from a rooftop overlooking Downtown Los Angeles. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certific...
Oil
Riding subway in NYC, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I did a series of paintings in the studio based on sketches I did while riding the New York subways this summer (2016). :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an offic...
Oil
Hydrangeas #2, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I painted this painting a number of years ago as part of a series I did on this Hydrangea plant I picked up at the local supermarket. The painting is full of big, bold, colorful, th...
Oil
Beef Stew, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Still life of a can of beef stew. Watercolor on Arches cold pressed 140 lb watercolor paper. :: Painting :: Pop-Art :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity s...
Watercolor
Hydrangeas #1, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I did a series of paintings based on this Hydrangea plant I bought at the local supermarket. This one was the largest one I did. It is full of bold thick brushstrokes. :: Painting ::...
Oil
Rush Hour, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Painted on location (plein air) in downtown Los Angeles. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready t...
Oil
Crazy LA Helicopter Car Chase, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Painting of a car chase in Los Angeles with a little MC Esher influence. Oil, spray paint and acrylic on canvas. :: Painting :: Contemporary :: This piece com...
Oil
9th & Broadway, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting was painted on location (plein air) in Downtown Los Angeles. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the...
Oil
Whole Black olives, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Still life of a can of whole black olives. Painted on a full sheet ( 30" x 22 1/4") Arches 140 cold press watercolor paper. Please note: there are a few splashes of watercolor above ...
Watercolor
8th and Broadway, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Painted on location (plein air) on the corner of 8th and Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece co...
Oil
China Cabinett
By John Kilduff
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Oil on canvas.
Oil
On Broadway #3, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting was painted entirely on location (en plein air) on Broadway Street in Downtown Los Angeles. The painting is full of bold brushstrokes! Signed on the lower right. I did ...
Oil
Cactus Garden, Painting, Watercolor on Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Large Plein air watercolor of the cactus plants in the backyard. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist ::...
Watercolor
Hollyhocks, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Large plein air oil painting of hollyhocks from my backyard. :: Painting :: Fine Art :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready t...
Oil
Gas Station in the middle of California, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Large oil painting of the inside of a gas station in the middle of California on Interstate 5. :: Painting :: Fine Art :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authentici...
Oil
Garden Center, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Oil painting of the entrance to the Home Depot garden center in Van Nuys, California. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity si...
Oil
Driving in LA, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Oil, acrylic and spray paint on canvas. The painting I started in 2019 but recently reworked it. :: Painting :: Contemporary :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authe...
Oil
Mulholland Dive, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Oil painting of a view from Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, California. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the ...
Oil
USA Gasoline, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Oil painting of the USA gas station in Van Nuys, California. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Rea...
Oil
Beverly Hillbillies, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting is of a street scene in Beverly Hills, California. Spray Paint, Acrylic and Oil on Canvas. :: Painting :: Pop-Art :: This piece comes with an official certificate of au...
Oil
Monterrey, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Based on a plein air watercolor I did in Monterey, California. Painting is full of thick bold brushstrokes. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certifi...
Oil
30 planes landing into Burbank 4-11-22, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
On April 11, 2022, I painted the airplanes landing into Burbank airport from my backyard. I live streamed the event on my YouTube channel Letspainttv. 30 canvas panels mounted onto a...
Oil
Ox-Bow woods number 1, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air watercolor of the woods at Ox-Bow in Saugatuck, MI. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Re...
Watercolor
Ox-Bow wood's number 2, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air watercolor of the woods at Ox-Bow in Saugatuck, MI. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Re...
Watercolor
Malibu rocks #1, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air watercolor of the Sea at Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu, California. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signe...
Watercolor
Red Still life #1, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Still life of red objects that I found laying around in my studio. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authent...
Oil