John Parra is an award winning illustrator, artist, educator, and designer.  He has worked with such clients as United Airlines, Jeep/Daimler Chrysler, Virgin Records, Entertainment One Music, PBS, Nino de Rivera Communications, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Tricycle Press/Random House, Lee and Low Books, Chronicle Books, Sleeping Bear Press, Luna Rising/Cooper Square Publishing, SCBWI, The L.A. Weekly and Mpls/St.Paul Magazine.  His artwork has been showcased and displayed in numerous gallery shows and museum exhibitions in New York, California, Texas, Indiana, and throughout the United States.  Many of his fine art paintings now reside with private collectors.  He has taught and lectured art and illustration workshops at the primary school to the college and professional level.  He has also received honors and accolades from The American Library Association (ALA), The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, The New York’s Society of Illustrators, The Art Directors Club of New York, REFORMA, and Latino Literacy Now.

John’s artistic path began while growing up in Santa Barbara, California.  He spent his days exploring and drawing landscapes, wildlife, city and family.  His Hispanic roots and heritage provided a rich cultural palette of inspiring imagery and customs.  Mexican mural artists, folk style paintings, pop art designs, outsider art, cultural symbols, surrealist compositions, regional cuisine, music and dance costumes are all visual influences seen in his work.  Awarded a full scholarship, John went on to graduate from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with Honors.

Now living in Queens, New York, with his wife Maria, John continues working in his studio, passionately creating art through imagination and creativity.  He recently completed the first-ever Golden Kite Awards poster for The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) as well as released his fourth illustrated children’s book entitled: Waiting For The Biblioburro, with author Monica Brown, now available in stores.

*My Photo Album