John
Jeffries
1. Welcome John to The Influx Gallery family. Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are from?
I'm 49, a builder by trade, for the last 30 years, but I’ve always had this passion to paint from an early age, I was born in the Worcestershire area, now living in Shropshire.
2. Were your family supportive of you deciding to become an artist?
Well to be honest my family could never understand how I came to paint,it didn’t run in the family as an artist,it all began with felt pen sketches of transformers and action force figures when I was 10.
3. Was there anything specific that you can remember that made you want to become an artist?
,I just felt like a challenge, my sister, god bless her was mad on horses,so my 1st real painting was actually acrylic and oil ,I still have the painting.she was my inspiration to be honest.
4. Did your schooling or work affect your creative development in any way?
I did do art at school but not very well, being a full time builder and painting was always a challenge, but I enjoyed the art so much I’d often stay up to all hours after work working through the night creating.
5. Where do you get your inspiration and influences from?
My inspirations normally come from the picture itself, the photos I get sent, it has to sort of speak to me,to say that’s the 1 to paint that will stand out,
I’ve always had this mad fascination with Leonardo da Vinci, I stood looking at 1 of his paintings once, it was an incredible sensation.
6. Do you have a favourite painting technique?
Oils are my favourite to work with, however I’ve started to explore a bit and combine fine line pen with oils, that’s the piece with the blue sky and silhouette trees.
7. We love your evocative landscapes. Do you have a go to locations when painting these spectacular landscapes?
Thank you I’m so glad you love my work, wow evocative, I’ve never heard people say that before about my work ,I really appreciate that,
I do have the luxury of living in the countryside and it’s beautiful surroundings, tethers some stunning scenery I get to take photos of, I do also have a lady in Cornwall and a friend in Malvern who sends me photos, so my work is always original, straight from the camera lens.
8. What was your most enjoyable piece to paint?
my most favourite would actually have to be sunrise over Malvern with the birch tree,it just gave people that thrill when they see it,
But I also like the silhouette piece.
9. How you see your painting evolving over the next 10 years?
I’ll still be painting hopefully go worldwide so everyone can enjoy the work I do, And maybe inspire people to get out more and enjoy the landscapes I paint from.
10. Thanks a lot for your valuable time and interest. You can include any other details you want to talk about here?
its been my pleasure to chat,and thank you for taking the time to interview me.