The Artist & The Process
GJohn's journey began in 1990 with early explorations in art and evolved into a full-time acrylic practice in 2020. Influenced by John Singer Sargent and inspired by global creativity, his work merges structure with emotion, where colour, movement, and curiosity collide.
Behind the Work
GJohn’s process blends digital experimentation, graphite sketches, and acrylic layering, a balance between order and instinct. Every piece carries traces of its origin, transformed into something tangible yet expressive.
With roots in engineering and business, GJohn brings a unique perspective to his art, bridging analytical thinking with pure creative expression. Each painting becomes a dialogue between structure and spontaneity.
"Art is a feeling made visible, each brushstroke a fragment of memory, instinct, or fantasy."
– GJohn
Get to Know GJohn
Where do your ideas usually begin, and how do you bring them to life?
“Ideas usually start somewhere quiet and unexpected, sometimes walking down the street, an image on the tv, a post on social media, a photograph, a conversation or even a sound can create the spark. For me, I guess they often begin in the space between noticing something in everyday life and my imagination, where the mind wanders and even makes strange unexpected connections quite a long time before sitting at the easel.
For those who know my work, you’ll know I am directly influenced by ’real life' experiences as well as making observations, and I love recreating bringing this to life in my work. I aim to 'Paint' whereby there is an 'immediate recognition' of the subject however, I do not attempt to create a photorealistic image and at times you’ll need to work hard to explore the ideas within my work. Sometimes it’s structured, sometimes chaotic, sometimes amusing, sometimes sad. I have a conversation with the work along the way, listening to what it wants to become and then letting myself go that way. (…and back again if it doesn’t seem to work out.)
Once the idea is born, I’ll sometimes go straight to canvas with acrylics however, sometimes I use graphite for preliminary sketches, framework etc... Gradually, the idea solidifies!”
How do you know when a piece is finished, and how does that moment feel?
“I think it’s different for everyone, but for me there’s usually a mix of intuition, a feeling where the story you wanted to tell is now there, it feels complete and I’m proud but also getting a quiet internal feeling of sadness emptiness that ‘its done’. (You’ve lived inside the painting for so long, thousands of brushstrokes, and it’s now time to stop, sign and to let it go.)”
What does art mean to you personally?
“My art is a feeling made visible, whereby that feeling can find its voice and tells a story in full colour. Each brushstroke carries a fragment of memory, instinct, fantasy, maybe inviting others to discover a piece of themselves within it. Art for me is about expression, emotion, exploration, and about connecting with people. Hopefully my work catches you just for a moment, or creates conversations, sparking an emotion or maybe just letting you experience a little bit of the world through my eyes. It’s about sharing a little piece of myself, it’s about testing styles, techniques, and everything around that influences me.
In short, creating Art feels like a purpose, something I’ll always do regardless of recognition.”
What advice would you give to emerging artists?
“Never stop creating, never stop learning, listen to everyone and then paint what makes you happy. Be patient with yourself, create art every day, let your curiosity lead you, mix colours that really shouldn’t be seen together, include shapes & objects that just shouldn’t be there, let your mistakes help you on a journey of discovery. Enjoy the process and keep showing/sharing your work.
Not everybody is going to like your work however, your ‘voice’ is worth sharing, paint it boldly, proudly without apology.”
Commission A Custom Artwork
Looking for something personal? GJohn accepts a limited number of commissions each year, creating original pieces inspired by your story, your space, and your emotion.
Discuss theme, colours, and inspiration.
Share Your Vision
Preview designs digitally before painting begins.
Concept & Sketches
Regular updates as layers build and artwork evolves
Creation Process
Signed and authenticated artwork, ready to display.
Delivery
“Never stop creating, never stop learning.”