John R. Dempsey was born 1975 in Charleston,
South Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and the Florence Academy of Art. He has been an apprentice to Ben Long since 2002. His specialty is portraiture, but he also works in landscape and figures. He teaches portraiture and cast drawing at the Fine Arts League.

"Drawing is the key element of great painting. The ability to describe the nuances of form with a simple tool such as a piece of charcoal prepares the painter for the problems which arise when attempting to display the subtle beauty of nature. Accurate demonstration of nature's beauty is the hallmark
of a great work." — JRD