Raised in upstate New York, John spent his childhood immersed in the world of art. As a grandson of wildlife sculptor Louis Paul Jonas, he enjoyed an artistic up bringing surrounded by museum quality work. Beginning at a very young age, John would spend hours working and playing in the family studio and being exposed to art, tools and fabrication techniques. As early as age 10, he was already assisting in the production of miniature animal sculptures by helping with mold making, casting, tooling, finishing and painting. On several occasions he worked on the assembly of dioramas and life-sized dinosaur exhibits for various museums around the country. After working at the studio for most of his teenage years, he completed four years of university study and began to travel abroad.

In 1985 Merritt settled in Los Angeles and started freelancing in the entertainment industry as a special effects artist, designer and fabricator. He worked at various film studios creating scenery for product commercials, television shows and major motion pictures such as Speed, Total Recall and Batman until eventually opening his own studio in 1996. Since then, John has been committed to a career in the visual arts. His love for the medium of paint and sculpture and his focus and dedication are apparent in everything he creates. His experiences have given him a unique perspective on concept, color and form and his desire to create outstanding quality work is part of his soul.