ADRIAN MARCHIO

About the Artist

Adrian Marchio came from South Africa to Australia 6 years ago.

Adrian is a self-taught commercial artist who has been airbrushing since he was 13. He works in mixed media and specializes in airbrushing. The discipline of fine graphic artistry is the cornerstone to amazing mural and Tromp l’oeil work, and airbrushing is his secret to work that looks so real that is often mistaken for wallpaper, photography and even the real thing!

Adrian has an extensive portfolio of 27 years of artwork – from modern drag cars to old classical hotrods, show choppers and cars. There is print-ready graphic illustration for ad agencies and architectural artistic impressions and classical wall murals for luxury homes and large scale murals and themeing for theme parks, shopping centres and restaurants.

Background

Adrian had strictly academic schooling at Marist Bros College in Johannesburg, South Africa, where no art was offered, and never attended any formal art classes. Instead he would spend many school holidays and late nights at his desk and paint and draw and airbrush whenever he could. Adrian knew all his life that this is what he wanted to do, and decided to study commercial art, so that his artwork could be more commercially applicable and viable.

His grandfather, the belated Nino (Jackomo) Marchio, who was a well-known Italian artist and sculptor in Cape Town, South Africa, had a great influence in his life, and his art. A strict man with high principles and morals, he was respected and loved by all who knew him. Although he sadly past away in February 1998, his example of “who you are is more important than what you do”, still resounds in my head and I often feel I am getting a good smack when I mess up, which is often, as I try to live up to his expectations!

Work History

After studying his Graphic Design Diploma at Wits University in Johannesburg for 3 years, he served as a military army officer for the South African Defence Force. On completion, he moved to Cape Town, where he started his own graphic design studio, designing corporate identities, doing airbrush and hand-painted illustration work for ad agencies and had an agency for promotional apparel. He started to get commissions for murals and specialized signage, especially shop-fronts and restaurants.

As computers started to enter the design field a year or two later, he studied courses available and then was asked to create and manage the first desktop publishing design studio for one of the largest group of printing companies in Africa. The studio had to prepare print-ready designs and photolithographic colour-separations for printing processeses of Letterpress, Lithographic, Flexographic and Silkscreen for the large South African wine industry.

During the 3 years there, he still worked most weekends and many weeknights, airbrushing luxury coaches and painting murals, as it was still his true passion to work for himself and “smell the paint”! When asked to supply the Vodacom (national mobile service provider’s) marketing head-office with 50 paintings and interior themeing pieces, and then received the Cape Town and pending Johannesburg contract for the “Planet Hollywood” chain of restaurants, he decided to start his full-time business.

Some South African Projects

• Planet Hollywood - the project managing, installation and airbrushing of 164 pieces for the 110 square metres main feature diorama and also airbrush the major signage pieces.
• The Century City Shopping Centre (the biggest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere) where his architecturally-scaled work was digitally enlarged to 1000 square metres of the main promotional court.
• Grand West Casino – airbrushed illustrative work for the “Magic Company” childrens gaming centre enlarged for large-format printing for themed party rooms and recreational areas
• Ratanga Junction Theme Park – Art direction for the themeing company MTE which included all the large 3-dimentional themed signage pieces and recreational items, and included also a large DC3 Dakota Aeroplane that had to look like it had crash-landed over a large ride with fuselage wreckage paint effects.
• Key West Bowling Centres – Design and painting of 360 degree aluminous paintings and themed areas and accessory items for 4 bowling alleys
• Restaurants - Created the themed designs and hand-painted signage. Painted many restaurants from logo design to 360 degree mural work in perspective and architectural correctness. His services included colour management of décor, floor coverings, fabric colour advice (for seats, tablecloths curtains etc), designing and silkscreen painting of awnings, vinyl work for windows and doors, accessories, menu design etc • Specialized signage - old distressed wooden signs, modern back-lit and neon signage, from design to completion
• Dockside Megaclub – R55 million night club (Approx AU$15 million) 150 square metres of murals of different styles, completed in only 6 weeks
• “Vodacom” and the huge “Vodaworld Megacentre” in Johannesburg approximately 60 pieces

Dubai

Mercato Shopping Centre – Art-director for MTE Emirates – managing teams of paint effects specialists to complete themeing of the centre to resemble an old Italian village, with traditional Italian aged and distressed plaster and marble and faux finishes. He managed 22 teams of 5 painters each, completing the project within extreme conditions and time constraints.

On the domestic front

Adrian has painted murals for many prestigious homes in entrance halls, entertainment areas, spa and pool areas, living rooms and childrens bedrooms.

In the Media

Since being in Australia, Adrian has won many Automotive Airbrush awards for Best Show Cars & Choppers and his work has been on front covers and centre-folds of most auto magazines. Check the media page here »

Why we do what we do!

Where most artists will say that they airbrush everything and anything, Adrian respectfully declines artwork requests for anything even mildly pornographic or of a graphically evil nature. “I have been given this talent, and am accountable as to what I do with it and what I put out there as “being cool”. There are constant and countless opportunities to produce this kind of artwork, but I really can’t do it”. I will gladly design things that look “tuff” or awesome, and will put all my efforts into making the artwork exceed expectations.

Adrian supports local juvenile teen programmes and local church ministries and any projects where he has an opportunity to give back some of the positive motivations and skills he has learnt on the way. For example, Concern Australia – Hand Brake Turn, located in Gosford, is fundamental in helping troubled teens make huge changes to their life. www.concernaustralia.org.au/hbt . They learn automotive skills, including some painting and graphics, and are given skills and the help they need for a better future.

Teaching:

Adrian teaches and Tafe’s around Sydney, and privately around the country. “In regards to my teaching, I am passionate about airbrushing, but more so the disciplines that can be learned from it, and I give the students all the support and info they need to do well and enjoy the challenge of mastering the art”.

On a personal note: My family and I are really privileged to be in this amazing country, and enjoying the benefits of so many people supporting us with the true Aussie Spirit. There are daily examples in all facets of our life and work of their endless generosity. We thank you very much for taking the time out to check out the website and getting to know us a bit better. Next time that you are in Sydney, we would love to meet you! Just call Adrian on: 0423 246 078