The Little Story Behind the Brush
- Melissa Mitchell
- Mar 25
- 4 min read
March 25, 2026
For artist and author John Little, the path to becoming a professional artist began years ago while standing with his wife in Marathon, Florida. The two were watching renowned marine artist Guy Harvey paint an ocean mural on the side of an old Kmart building.
Layer by layer, a bull shark began to appear.
“I remember watching him create the large shark,” John told me. “Each layer shaped it, and you could see the whole thing start coming to life. I remember turning to my wife and saying, ‘Babe… I can do that.’”
At the time, life had other plans.
But that moment stayed with him.
Early Creativity
Art had always been part of John’s life. He remembers it being his favorite class in elementary school—aside from lunch and recess, of course.
In high school, creativity showed up in unexpected places. While taking drafting classes, John transformed an old kitchen cabinet in the family barn into a colorful underwater mural.
“It started as a plain blue background that looked like water,” he said. “So I began adding fish—a spinner shark, a queen angelfish, coral, and reef fish. Before I knew it, that old cabinet had turned into a full mural.”
Life eventually carried him in another direction. John went on to serve in the United States Coast Guard and later spent years with the Corpus Christi Police Department.
Those experiences shaped how he sees the world today.
“It gave me a perspective that made me realize how important time with family and the people we care about really is,” he said.
For years, painting remained something he once loved—but never pursued.
Until a simple moment changed everything.
Picking Up the Brush Again
That moment arrived through a Facebook post.
A retired police lieutenant John once worked with suggested acrylic painting as a hobby for retirees with a little extra downtime. John decided to give it a try.
He stopped at Dollar General, picked up a small 4x6 canvas, a few tubes of paint, and some brushes—and painted what he knew best: the water. Drawing on his love for fishing and the outdoors, he created his first seascape completely from memory.
When his wife Alicia came home, she admired the painting and asked where he bought it.
“I told her I painted it,” John said with a laugh. “She said, ‘No you didn’t. Paint another one.’”
That simple challenge turned out to be the beginning of something much bigger.
Capturing the Moment
In February of 2025, John attended a class with internationally known wave artist Wade Koniakowsky—something I had encouraged him to consider as a way to further develop his work. The impact was immediate, and he said his paintings have evolved tremendously since that experience.
For John, learning in person made all the difference. “There’s just something about seeing it done in person that makes that ‘aha’ moment happen,” he said.
One moment from the class especially stuck with him.
“Wade held up a roll of paper towels to show how waves roll,” John said. “When you break it down like that, it becomes simple. Those visuals are what really help you understand painting.”
His artwork—inspired by fishing trips, coastal scenes, and the outdoors—captures moments he has experienced firsthand. But painting isn’t John’s only creative outlet. He has also written several books, including The Traveling Angler, which blends fishing stories with reflections on life and the outdoors.
His first book was inspired by becoming a grandfather.
“When my daughter told us we were going to be grandparents, I wrote a book for her called Teach Me How to Fish,” he said. “I wanted a way to pass those things on.”
John is already planning his fifth book.
John's work has already reached audiences beyond the coast. He was recently accepted into the Coast Guard Art Program and has two paintings that will be included in the 2026 art collection. Last year, one of John’s paintings was featured in the National Law Enforcement Museum’s exhibit in Washington, D.C., Officers as Artists: The Creative Expression of Those Who Serve, which highlights the artistic talents of officers from across the country.
The exhibit explored how creativity often becomes an important outlet for those in public service—helping them reflect, process difficult experiences, and express a different side of their lives beyond the badge.
After the exhibit, John donated the piece to the Corpus Christi Police Department, where it now hangs at the Police Academy as a reminder that there’s always room to grow, explore new passions, and give back.
When people stand in front of his paintings, John hopes they feel something familiar.
“I want them to feel like they’re right there beside me,” he said. “Living that moment just like I did.”
And that’s what great art does—it invites us to become a little part of the story.
You can learn more about John’s artwork and find prints at Evoke, or visit his website at johnlittlearts.com.
The Art of Island Life will return next week with more stories and coastal reflections. Have a story to share or a cause close to your heart? I’d love to hear from you at contact@melissamitchellart.com
The Little Art of Fishing is available for purchase here: https://amzn.to/4b8TQqY
The Traveling Angler: Catch Fish Wherever You Go is available for purchase here:
Evoke Studio & Gifts
14646 Compass Street, Suite 10
The Island—Corpus Christi, Texas 78418
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 11a-4p, Friday & Saturday: 12p-4p, Closed Sunday & Monday
After-hours private shopping appointments may be arranged upon request, based on schedule availability.
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