John Wilkins is considered one of the greatest artist of the last century
Wilkins painted with a feel for the fine texture and human realities of life. The result was a revelation. He was, indeed, an incomparable painter during his time. Wilkins explored stimulating and sensitive themes with rare understanding and insight. He was an unparalleled master artist. His paintings are sensual, captivating, fascinating and unusually perceptive. What makes his works special are their breadth and appropriate mix. They are enlightening and affecting, and extraordinarily rich.
JOHN WILKINS, India was born on June20, 1927 at Kolar Gold Fields
John Wilkins was one of the leading painters from India which include Tyeb Mehta, S.H. Raza, M.F. Husain, Francis Newton Souza,Akbar Padamsee, Manjit Bawa and many more greats. His talent expressed itself in his works, in many styles, mediums and techniques – brush, sketch, commercial, fine art and portrait painting.His innate talent expressed itself in his works in myriad styles, mediums and techniques – brush, sketch, commercial, and fine art, and portrait paintings. His versatility and unique style set him apart from other artists of his time. His originality and individuality shine through in all his paintings and other works, including his wacky captions. Wilkins pursued the path of art with dedication and devotion. He always remained open to new trends and techniques. He was a volatile and rebellious person. It has reflected in some of his works. He was a perfectionist and never believed in imitation or plagiarism. He was truly a versatile artist. His versatility manifested itself both in content and form. It won him instant recognition from art-lovers, collectors, art groups and advertising agencies. His skill in the field of advertisement brought him laurels, including national awards. Several well-known national and international companies, leading publishers, printers and advertisers commissioned him for visual designs, paintings and illustrations relating to their prestigious publications.His family life though was very turbulent. Married to his art he hated to be disturbed at his work. While working for the Advertising Agency -Graphic Arts Industries in Bangalore he actually broke the nose of an executive who disturbed his quite Sunday painting time. He later left home and a large family to work at his art as a recluse in Coimbatore and afterward in New Delhi. In February 2010 an offer of $2.5 million for one of his paintings by a member of one of the Royal families from the Middle East was refused by an art collector in India.
Wilkins, the proverbial rolling stone that gathered no moss, started his career as a bill board painter in Bangalore. He was a man of moods. He would finish a painting within two minutes, not only with brush or knife but with water and glycerin. He would paint 20-30 paintings at one shot on different themes. He studied different works of well-known painters and artists. He had no formal education in any institution run for artists. He was in fact a self-taught artist.
Most of his paintings are held by private collectors, a few companies and also Government Departments like the British High Commission and the Singapore High Commission. Not one to be too bothered by publicity and art accolades he had very few exhibitions of his work, the last in New Delhi in 1982. Some of his paintings are unsigned and some not complete, lost in some random mood swing, but whatever little paint touched the canvas reveals his power, passion and style.
He died in in 1991 in Trichy, Tamil Nadu and was buried there in St. Christopher's Church.
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