Adrian John has been interested in art since he was six years old. “I remember being fascinated with drumkits, so I started designing my dream kit through lots of sketches,” he says. “At the same time my, grandfather was painting, and I felt inspired wanting to do what he was doing.”
After studying A-level Art, Adrian went on to study at the Swansea Art College in South Wales. Today, he spends equal time in drawing and painting. “I’m a firm believer that if you don’t practice drawing the, painting will suffer,” he says. “I find the both very therapeutic. There’s a need to rotate to sometimes keep a fresh approach.”
Before embarking on a painting, Adrian says he usually begins with a drawing. “Certain things need to be carefully mapped out especially if the proportions are a strong element of the composition I’m working on. Correct scale is key to filling the surface effectively.”
Adrian also works from photos, which adds to his creative process. He explains: “I use a grid technique to scale up so there’s a little bit of math involved. Then I start the mapping (pencil outline), which takes some time, followed by the tonal washes and underpainting. Finally, the topcoats and finer details/ highlights etc.”
With a style that’s been described as having a real sense of place, Adrian works on various mediums. some of his favorite art tools include a ruler, 2H HB and 6B graphite pencils, a good-quality eraser, a wide range of brushes, and mirrors.
Adrian is inspired by the relationship between nature and human interaction. “I think we take certain things for granted being rushed off our feet. I find the time to stop and appreciate my surroundings,” he says. He also admires the works of other artists like Richard Estes. “He is part of the photorealism movement that developed in the United States back in the 60s and 70s,” Adrian says. “His play with composition distorted through reflection and his technique was and still continues to be on a different level.”
Adrian is currently working on another pairing of musical figurative works that he hopes will be ready for gallery exhibition in the next few months.
Visit https://www.adrianjohnart.co.uk/ to see more of Adrian’s work.
