John Candelario: Painter of Southwestern Soul John Candelario’s artistic journey began in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he absorbed the vibrant hues and rugged textures of the Southwest—a landscape that would indelibly shape his vision. From a young age, he demonstrated an innate fascination with art, experimenting with various mediums before settling on oil painting as his primary vehicle for expression. Early Influences: Candelario’s formative years were marked by exposure to the works of artists like Maynard Dixon and Georgia O'Keeffe—luminaries who championed the expressive power of co…