A Real Sense of Place
A
drian 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
ArtDiction | 44 | March/April 2020
