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.
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
30 planes landing into Burbank Airport, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
For a little over 3 hours on March 22, 2019, I painted all of the planes as they flew over my backyard. 30 paintings in all, each painting is 8" x 10". Oil on canvas panels. Panels m...
Oil
Portrait of osculating fan while on treadmill, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Still life portrait of an osculating fan while running on a treadmill. Streamed live on my Youtube channel: letspainttv :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an off...
Oil
Palm Perspective number 2, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I always liked seeing the palm trees going into the horizon and thought it would be interesting to capture that feeling on a triangle shaped canvas. :: Painting :: Pop-Art :: This pi...
Oil
Olive tree in the backyard, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air acrylic painting of the olive tree in the backyard. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Re...
Acrylic
Under the Olive tree number 2, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Painting of the olive tree in the backyard. Spray paint, acrylic and oil on canvas. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity sign...
Oil
Hollyhock, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I have been experimenting the last few years using spray paint, acrylic and oils on the canvas. I painted this en plein air in my backyard. :: Painting :: Contemporary :: This piec...
Oil
Still life of a jar of pickles #2, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I painted this jar of pickles live during my livestreaming show Let's Paint TV. Spray paint, acrylic and oils on Canvas :: Painting :: Pop-Art :: This piece comes with an official ce...
Oil
Tulips in a vase, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Painted these tulips that where in the dining room. I used spray paint, acrylic and oils on the painting. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificat...
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
Hollyhock Plein Air #2, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air painting of a hollyhock flower in my backyard. I did another painting of the same hollyhock (Hollyhock #1) at the same time and made a video of the process. Here's the vide...
Oil
Goya's Colossus 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
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
Goya's 3rd of May 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
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
Farmers and Merchants Bank, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air painting of the Farmers and Merchants Bank in Downtown Los Angeles. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by ...
Oil
Cheesebro Oak, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air painting (painted on location) of an oak tree at Cheesebro Park in Agoura Hills, California. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate o...
Oil
8th & Broadway, Los Angeles, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting was painted on location at the corner of 8th & Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, California. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certific...
Oil
Orphium Theater, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting was painted on location (p[lein air) in front of the Orphium theater in Downtown Los Angeles. :: Painting :: Impressionist...
Oil
Sari's Cactus Garden, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air (painted on location) painting of Sari's cactus garden. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authen...
Oil
17 mile drive, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Large painting of the beautiful coast near Carmel, California. Spray Paint and Acrylic on Canvas. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of aut...
Acrylic
Zuma Beach #2, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting of beachgoers on Zuma Beach in Malibu, California. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the ...
Oil
Farmers and Merchants Bank, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air (painted on location) at the corner of 4th and Main in Downtown Los Angeles, California. This painting was done for the 2018 Los Angeles Plein Air Festival. I won the Grand...
Oil
4th of July Sale, Painting, Oil on Other
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting was painted on location (plein air) in front of a car dealership on Van Nuys Blvd in Los Angeles, California. :: Painting :: Americana :: This ...
Oil
17 mile drive #2, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Large painting of the beautiful coast near Carmel, California. Spray paint, Acrylic and Oil on Canvas. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate o...
Acrylic
San Fransisco Cable Car, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Painted this in the studio, based on a photo I took of a Cable Car in San Francisco. This is part of a new series of paintings where I spray paint the outline and than use watered-do...
Acrylic
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
Backyard still life, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting of a found still life in my backyard. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Rea...
Oil
Jet Stream Liquors, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air (painted on location) oil painting of Jet Stream Liquors in North Hollywood, which is about a mile away from the Burbank Airport. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piec...
Oil