Randle Drury Biography.
I have been interested in art from a very early age, I started by drawing cartoons, like many artists no doubt. I then went on to creating caricatures of people I know and then gradually broadened my interests in art which resulted in my going to art college and eventually to teach the subject for a number of years.
Influences.
It's hard to think of specific artists, there have been so many that have been an influence, the main ones would be Picasso, De Chirico (and other surrealists), Andy Warhol and other pop artists. Also Marc Rothko ( for ultimate simplicity), other American artists would be Edward Hopper and Andrew Wyeth. A lot of hints for my ideas come from lesser known artists, who may have elements in their work which appeal to me. I even find that some advertising and graphic art can spark ideas. Some of the travel posters from the 1950s are beautifully done and have a simplicity and attention to composition.
Techniques and Method.
My approach to a painting usually starts with a drawing or a photo, I then try to find some interesting elements and by making several studies I arrive at a composition. I like to play around with perspective and scale, often my compositions appear to be closely cropped which probably owes a lot to photography which was a big part of my teaching. Also I push the boundaries of realism combined with abstraction which removes the straightjacket of being 'realistic' in my approach.
Some people have said that the colours I use are very bright, I try to use the paint straight out of the tube and choose strongly saturated ones which tend to stand out.
My style can vary quite a lot, sometimes I'll see someones painting which I like, I will try the technique which may be totally unlike my other work. I try to avoid a traditional approach which can be very boring, fortunately there has been an explosion of interest in non traditional styles.
Subjects
The subject matter is based partly on a love of fishing boats and harbours which are full of possibilities for painting. I love to paint people in pubs or playing music, its a bit like fishing boats, there are infinite opportunities for composition. My upbringing was near the sea, which probably explains love of the sea, beaches etc.
Message?
I'm not really aware of trying to say something in my painting. I think that I try to evoke an atmosphere or feeling which the paired down composition conveys, possibly that of stillness, who knows! Painting is like meditation, it takes you somewhere else, much the same as a gardener or fisherman would feel. You can create something straight out of your head in your studio which someone, somewhere will like and buy!
I have been interested in art from a very early age, I started by drawing cartoons, like many artists no doubt. I then went on to creating caricatures of people I know and then gradually broadened my interests in art which resulted in my going to art college and eventually to teach the subject for a number of years.
Influences.
It's hard to think of specific artists, there have been so many that have been an influence, the main ones would be Picasso, De Chirico (and other surrealists), Andy Warhol and other pop artists. Also Marc Rothko ( for ultimate simplicity), other American artists would be Edward Hopper and Andrew Wyeth. A lot of hints for my ideas come from lesser known artists, who may have elements in their work which appeal to me. I even find that some advertising and graphic art can spark ideas. Some of the travel posters from the 1950s are beautifully done and have a simplicity and attention to composition.
Techniques and Method.
My approach to a painting usually starts with a drawing or a photo, I then try to find some interesting elements and by making several studies I arrive at a composition. I like to play around with perspective and scale, often my compositions appear to be closely cropped which probably owes a lot to photography which was a big part of my teaching. Also I push the boundaries of realism combined with abstraction which removes the straightjacket of being 'realistic' in my approach.
Some people have said that the colours I use are very bright, I try to use the paint straight out of the tube and choose strongly saturated ones which tend to stand out.
My style can vary quite a lot, sometimes I'll see someones painting which I like, I will try the technique which may be totally unlike my other work. I try to avoid a traditional approach which can be very boring, fortunately there has been an explosion of interest in non traditional styles.
Subjects
The subject matter is based partly on a love of fishing boats and harbours which are full of possibilities for painting. I love to paint people in pubs or playing music, its a bit like fishing boats, there are infinite opportunities for composition. My upbringing was near the sea, which probably explains love of the sea, beaches etc.
Message?
I'm not really aware of trying to say something in my painting. I think that I try to evoke an atmosphere or feeling which the paired down composition conveys, possibly that of stillness, who knows! Painting is like meditation, it takes you somewhere else, much the same as a gardener or fisherman would feel. You can create something straight out of your head in your studio which someone, somewhere will like and buy!