Adam Barsby Biography
I do try and spend the majority of my working days in
the studio. Although I begin quite early in the morning and paint for most of
the day, I do take regular short breaks in order to stay
fresh, as things can look very different when you go back to them, and I think
gaining a perspective through time is an important part of the creative process.
I’ll stop for lunch and then return to the studio in the afternoon, but I never
paint beyond 6pm. Because I paint every day, I think it’s important not to push
on regardless, as the quality of the work inevitably suffers. Since turning
professional I had to learn this lesson the hard way as I am naturally prolific
and slowing down was a difficult thing to do - but quality not quantity is what
counts.
When I first discovered I had the ability to draw, and experienced the buzz of
creative satisfaction, I knew that this was something I wanted to pursue as a
career. I will never forget the pride and joy on my mother’s face at seeing me
do something that she thought was really special - she remains the most
inspirational figure in my life, and since her death I feel my creative drive
owes more and more to her memory.
In terms of artistic influences, I owe a great debt to the St Ives School of
painters. I love the idea that all these artists were drawn together into such
an inspirational environment and learnt from one another, developing a haven of
artistic creativity. The sea, boats and cottages, and the history, tradition and
mythology of Cornwall itself has provided me with a wealth of ideas. I also
greatly admire the work of many of the all time greats, for instance, Matisse
for his exceptional understanding of colour, Bonnard for his unequalled ability
to manipulate light and shadow, Picasso and Braque for their boldness and
innovation - to look at their work is to look at genius, and who could fail to
be inspired by that!
I don’t start to paint until I can visualise an image in my mind’s eye and then
I set about reinventing it on paper. I tend to see things that I think might
work within the context of my narrative style, and then work on the idea with a
series of rough sketches to refine my aims. Once I am ready to go, I like to
mark out the size I want -I find if I haven’t set myself a definite boundary the
composition has a tendency to grow. At present my preferred medium is oil paint,
for its terrific flexibility and the vibrancy of its colours. I feel that by
using oils I can achieve the precise effect I am looking for; strong and
distinctive colours with an intriguingly soft focus. I do anticipate taking some
time out to travel soon, as I feel the need to broaden my artistic horizons, and
when I do this, I intend to explore and experiment with a variety of media, to
see what else I am able to achieve.
Born in Leicester in 1969 Adam Barsby showed an early artistic talent which
would eventually lead him to graduate from Kent Institute of Art and Design in
Maidstone with a First Class Honours Degree. Following his graduation in 1992
Adam worked on several freelance projects for art galleries and magazines whilst
developing his distinctive style. In 1996 he decided to commit himself to
painting on a full time basis. His confidence was soon rewarded by invitations
to exhibit at many prestigious galleries throughout the UK and the highly
successful launch of his range of Limited Editions and Original Silkscreen
Prints.
Adam Barsby draws his inspiration from the romantic element of the world around
us, and describes his work as developing on a natural slant from story-telling.
His unique view of life, characterised by stylised images, rich colours and
thought provoking narratives, continue to take the art world by storm.
Adam Barsby unique talent has gained him the prestigious John Solomon Trophy for
Best Selling Artist of 1998, Best Up and Coming Artist for 1999 and three
nominations for Best-Selling Published Artist 2000, 2001 and 2002 from the Fine
Art Trade Guild. Demand for Adam's Original Paintings continues to grow and
although his Limited Editions and sculptures sell out on publication, but he is
still seeking new creative outlets for his ideas.