A graduate from Karnataka University with Psychology and philosophy as major subjects. Studied Art (Drawing and Painting) at 'Chitra Mandir', Belgaum for 9 years under the guidance of eminent artist and teacher Shri. K. B. Kulkarni.
Worked in Mumbai as an illustrator with a leading Advertising Agency for 9 years. Worked as a full time freelance artist for more then 25 years.
John has painted figures, landscapes, still life and anything that he found interesting in all mediums – watercolours, oils, pastels, acrylics… John Fernandes had several solo and group shows to his credit. Many rate John to be one of the finest realistic painters in India.
His journey as an artist started from a small town in Belgaum, Karnataka when he was brought to Shri. K. B. Kulkarni’s art classes by his elder brother. John’s inborn talent made him a quick student, needing only subtle suggestions from his teacher.
His grasp of line, form and colour tones was something exceptional. He learnt drawing from nature, from memory and from live models, using the medium of pencils, charcoal, crayons, water colours and oils with equal ease. John's paintings encapsulate with great skill, the sensual female form, rendered with a rare delicacy and sensitivity. His figurative paintings leave one enthralled by the provocative and yet sensually innocent look of his women. Besides figurative studies he also paints landscapes and still life with equal compositional and total skill. John’s confidence is such, that he does not use line to define form. He paints masses and forms emerge very interestingly.
Pencil drawings are his forte, a love which he said - "He has inherited from his Sir K. B. Kulkarni". Be it water colours or oils, John's disciplined and confident handling of his subjects, leave a definite stamp, which says, “This is John!”
John Fernandes invests art with an honest eye and raises the mind through the painted image, creating "timeless - art", that is a joy to behold.
Education :
- A graduate from Karnataka University with Psychology and Philosophy as major subjects
- Studied and Practiced Art (Drawing and Painting) at 'Chitra Mandir', Belgaum
Collections :
- A. J. Mountvala, Mumbai
- Ajay Piramal, Mumbai
- Akdashir Dubash, U. K.
- Ameet Poojari, Mumbai
- Anagha Dandekar, Mumbai
- Anuradha Mahindra, Mumbai
- Anil Gala, Mumbai
- Andy D. Doves, London
- Anju Taraporewala, Mumbai
- Archana Gupta, Mumbai
- Ashley D'Souza, Mumbai
- Ashish Dandekar, Mumbai
- Avanti Birla, Mumbai
- Ayesha Mathrani, New York
- Bharat Patel, Mumbai
- Bharat Shah, Mumbai
- Bamal Sicka, Mumboi
- Camlin Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
- Chandrakant Wane, Mumbai
- David B. Johnston, Mumbai
- Deepa Dhunjibhouy, Mumbei
- Deepika Gautam Mehra, Agra
- Divya Mohta, Mumbai
- Dr. Jagdish Patil, Mumbai
- Fazila Nagree, London
- Firoza Godrej, Mumbai
- Geeta Singh, Delhi
- Gloria D'Souza, Mumbai
- Gobind Bulchandani, Mumbai
- Gul Teckchandani, Mumbai
- Ginella Ramchandani, U. S. A.
- H. V. Goenka, Mumbai
- Harash Chhaganlal, Mumbai
- Heida Haye, London
- Indraneel Tavade, Mumbai
- Jagdish Goel, Mumbai
- Joy Munim, Mumbai
- Jeetubhai Patel, Tanzania
- Jeremy Arnold, Mumbai
- Jiloo Billimoria, Mumbai
- Judith Alan Brodie, Canada
- Jyostnaben Sheth, Mumbai
- K. S. Sawhney, Mumbai
- Kasturi Wadhwani, Mumbai
- Kiran Shah, Mumbai
- Kishore Musale, Mumbai
- Kishori Patwardhan, Mumbai
- Manek Guzder, Mumbai
- Manjeet Kriplani, Mumbai
- Mansueta D'Souza Dhindsa, New York
- Malini Gulrazani, Dubai
- Manan Lalbhai, Gujarat
- Meher Bijlani, Mumbai
- Menfred Kaeser, Spain
- Mehernosh P. Shroff, Mumbai
- Milind Chitanvis, Mumbai
- Monica Kochhar, Mumbai
- MVIRDC World Trade Centre, Mumbai
- Nalini K. Gera, Pune
- Narotam Sekhsaria, Mumbai
- Neil Javery, U. S. A.
- Navaz Guzder, Mumbai
- Nicholai Sachdev, Mumbai
- Parul Thakkar, Mumbai
- Patsy Bulchandani, Mumbai
- Prakash Chhabria, Pune
- Projjal Dutta, U. S. A.
- Ralph Mendonca, Dubai
- R. Mueller, Germany
- Rekha Thandani, Mumbai
- Regent Hotel, Chennai
- Ritu Prakash, Mumbai
- Rohit Gera, Pune
- Rolf Mey, Germany
- Rynda Reynold, U. S. A.
- Dr. S. M. Vasa, Mumbai
- Sameer Bulchandani, Mumbai
- Samir Khanzode (Link Ads), Mumbai
- Sanjay Patel, Mumbai
- Satgur P. Srivastava, Germany
- Seeta Nayyar, Mumbai
- Shanti Chopra, Mumbai
- Shantilal K. Somaiya, Mumbai
- Sandeep Basrur, Bangalore
- Saurabh Bhansali, Mumbai
- Sharad Dandekar (Camlin Pvt. Ltd.), Mumbai
- Shobit Rajan, Mumbai
- Shrenik Jhaveri, Mumbai
- Steve Swartzman, New York
- Sudhir Gupta, Mumbai
- Sukanti Kamat, Mumbai
- Sunita Drego Carr, Mumbai
- Taj Group of Hotels, Goa
- Vinita Bhandari, Mumbai
- Vinita Fernandes, Mumbai
- Vishwavir Ahuja, Mumbai
- V. K. K. Menon, New Delhi
- Walter Vieira, Mumbai
- Yashodha Paboney, Mumbai
- Zeenat Chotani, Mumbai
- and many more...
