Adrian is an artist Austin, Texas.
Describe your work as if you're speaking to a 5 year old.
I paint pictures with bright colors! I like to paint women's faces and shiny golden moons. Sometimes I paint people sitting on a blanket having a picnic on a mountain. I also like to make patterns with different colors. And I really like to paint lots of stars in the sky!
Your preferred method of getting that good creative vibe going.
I am at the mercy of the universe when it comes to inspiration. My work time is very regimented and follows my daughter's school schedule. So, I do my best to show up and work regardless of how motivated I feel about it. That being said, I tend to listen to podcasts or "slow sad dad music" to get my focus centered and tune out whatever things my head may have previously been obsessing over.
One living artist or designer you want to have cocktails with.
Barry McGee 100%.
What drives you absolutely nuts about the (art) world?
It drives me nuts how many artists are treated like disposable commodities these days, judged solely by some fleeting social media popularity. It feels like the magic gets sucked out, and the art world's just running on some algorithm, just like everything else.
At this point in my life, I'm all about fostering real connections with people who believe in my vision and the art I create. You gotta have folks in your corner who genuinely champion your work and stick with you through thick and thin.
A quote or lyric that your brain won’t shake.
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” - Jack Kerouac
A time you surprised yourself by the art you created.
I recently surprised myself while working on a large new painting. I typically work on smaller pieces like found wood and antique objects, so tackling a large canvas felt a bit daunting, even though I paint large murals. This project pushed me to bridge the gap between my studio practice and my larger-scale mural work.
The real surprise came when I began to work on a specific section of the painting. I wanted to incorporate a smaller 'painting within the painting.' The main painting is mostly created in a very flat, two-dimensional style, which is typical of my work. However, I wanted the 'painting within the painting' to have more depth and shading. I wasn't sure if it would work or even look good, but I followed through with the experiment and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.
Most recent song you've been listening to on repeat.
A Little More Time by Keenan O'Meara.
Last book you read that you couldn't put down.
Probably something Dave Eggers wrote.
Do you take in a song's lyrics or melody first?
Always the words.
Advice, compliment, insult...something that you will never forget.
I brought a bunch of collages and drawings to my freshman year painting class for a group critique. I guess you could say I had issues following direction because I was spending all this time working on paper instead of actually making paintings. The professor looked at my work and declared, 'You should probably look into making books or something because you're not going to be a painter.'
What podcast or show are you recommending that others may not have heard/seen?
If someone asks you to cook your "specialty" - what are you cooking?
Veggie burgers, home fries and roasted brussels.
What was the most memorable field trip you can remember going on?
It wasn't a field trip, exactly. Last year my family and I traveled to Milan for an opening I was included in at Antonio Colombo Gallery. We spent a few weeks exploring Italy and the whole experience felt incredibly surreal. It was like I was a kid again, experiencing everything with a renewed sense of wonder. Seeing Italy through my daughter's eyes was truly magical.
A piece of art in your home that you LOVE.
A Danny Fox print.
Huge shout out to ______ for ______!
Preacher Gallery for inviting me to show some paintings this May in Austin, TX!
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