Today we’d like to introduce you to John A. Clapp.
John A., please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
As a child, I was always drawing. Then when I was 15 years old, I visited my great-uncle who painted oil landscapes. So, I took inspiration from him and started painting as well. In college, I started doing ink drawings of barns. Then about the age of 22, I started painting landscapes again in oil or acrylic. My interest as an artist seem to evolve and change for variety. So, a couple years later, I began to paint song birds in nature. Then people portraits became my focus. I have sold my art since around 1992. I also entered many outdoor festivals and art shows which I was fortunate enough to receive awards.
For years, I painted still life paintings that I enjoyed going to antique shops and finding unique items to represent and bring an emotion to the viewer. Then my art evolved into painting and drawing trompe l’oeil where the image fools the eye and it looks like it is jumping off of the canvas or page. I started drawing miniature trompe l’oeil for fun as I have always like miniature things. And most recently, I have been making all kinds of miniatures out of wood, rock, or painting/drawing. I think most artists do change up what they do from time to time so they do not get bored. And then just as easily, we artists go back to doing something we loved to do in the past and with a new insight because of all the technique and practice we have learned.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
For the last several years, I’ve been working in miniature. I use graphite to create realistic miniature drawings. My drawing subjects consist of pets, people, locations, etc. I also draw realistic trope l’oeil drawings. I also make miniature items. My current interest is making miniature dioramas of outdoor scenes usually with some kind of water in them.
Some of my miniature drawings measure only 1” tall but can take several hours to complete due to the complexity and detail. I think I spend as much time sharpening my pencil as I do drawing with it. The main thing I strive for is detail and realism in just about everything I do. I often get comments saying “I thought that was a photo”, or “I thought that was real”.
My main goal in creating what I do is so that people will get some enjoyment about what they see and feel when looking at my work. Secondly, I also like to invite them in close to explore the details and “get lost” in the miniature world I create. When I display my work in public at a show or an event I supply magnifying glasses to invite them in close to really see what’s happening in that small space.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
My advice to other artists is be consistent; keep working on creating; and we need as an artist community to keep encouraging each other.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My website www.jclappart.com is a good place to find my work as well as get connected using links to other social media accounts and my Etsy store. You can find me on Facebook as well under John A. Clapp, Artist. Facebook is the best way to keep up to date and informed of upcoming events. People can support my work by sharing it with others on Facebook or word of mouth. Of course, contacting me and purchasing one of my pieces or commissioning me to do a one of a kind piece would also be supportive
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jclappart.com
- Email: jclapp@jclappart.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jclappart
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/john.clappartist
- Other: www.etsy.com/shop/jclappart
Image Credit:
John A. Clapp, Artist
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