John Michael Carter was born in Chicago, Illinois. He began his first studies in drawing at the age 16 with his father E.L.Carter, a commercial artist . In 1968 he attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago. In 1970 Mr.Carter moved to Los Angeles where he attended the Art Center College of Design. There he received a background in the major classical schools of painting and graduated with a B. F. A. Degree in 1972. For ten years Mr. Carter taught drawing and painting for the University of Kentucky at Jefferson Community College in Louisville, Ky. . He also has been a frequent guest instructor at art workshops across the country including the Scottsdale Artist School, the Dallas Arts League and the Arts Club of Cincinnati.

Since 1975 he has had 39 one man shows. He has exhibited with Grand Central Gallery in New York ; the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma; the Amarillo Art Center, Amarillo ,Texas; DeVille Gallery in Los Angeles,, California, J. Todd Gallery , Wellesley Massachusetts; Meyer Gallery in Santa Fe and Miller Gallery in Cincinnati Ohio among others. Mr. Carter has shown paintings in many national exhibitions and competitions including Arts for the Parks, the . 1991 Hubbard Museum Award for Excellence exhibition and the Artitsts of America show in Denver. His portrait "Hannah" was a finalist in the 2002 P.S.O.A. International Portrait Competition and "Jolie" was a finalist in 2003 He received first prize and the artists choice awards for his portrait Sarah at the 2002 A.S.O.P.A. International Portrait Competition. Mr. Carter received the Artists Magazine Award for his painting "Summer Reading" at the 2003 O.P.A National Exhibition. His painting "The Yellow Canary" won first prize at the 2004 O.P.A. National Exhibition. "The Dressing Table" was awarded Best Impressionistic Oil at the 2004 Hoosier Salon. "Romanian Girl " was a finalist in the 2005 Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition. He received first prize at the 2005 Hoosier Salon for his painting " Reading on the Veranda".