I usually start out with no preconceived idea or sketches of the finished piece. I let the objects and images interact with one another to build the scenario. My work intends to suggest structure, object and landscape influences. When I work 3 dimensionally, the added element of physical space imparts a unique characteristic to the overall construction.

My collage work is created with my pallet of paints, book parts, fragments of paper and recycled imagery collected from my daily wanderings. I am especially intrigued with the often-overlooked backgrounds, colors, textures, shapes, and negative spaces in everyday printed materials. The process of deconstructing images and then re-integrating many pieces, to create something completely new, is an intuitive and ongoing visual experiment. All of my collages are made of original found source materials.

Austin, TX native and currently residing in Northern California, John has been creating art professionally for over 20 years. The son of Arturo Mercado, acclaimed Western and Texas Hill Country landscape artist, who had a vast career of over 50 years. My greatest influences in my career are Arturo Mercado, Amado M. Pena and Lance Letscher. All of whom all I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with.