B i o g r a p h y
John Panopoulos was born in northern Greece and immigrated to Toronto, Canada with his family when he was 6 years old. As a boy, John envisioned himself becoming a scientist, an explorer and a superhero all in one feat. His creative imagination was recognized from a young age and he was encouraged to pursue an art career; he graduated with a Graphic Design diploma from George Brown College in Toronto. Within the next 25 years, John consistently executed fresh graphic designs for globally recognized companies, advancing his career to Creative Director.
A major shift in his career developed after watching artisans working at a site he was directing. John was so impressed with the newfound art of textural application that he took courses mastering the traditional Venitian wall techniques and soon after started a faux finishing company called Classic Artisan. As if the flood gates opened, he discovered a vast array of other materials that broadened his creative potentials for new forms of art.
After developing methods to achieve the look and feel of real stone at a fraction of the weight yet strong and weather-resistant, John realized the endless possibilities of creating unique stone features. He extended his company as Classic Artisan Sculptures and today his works are known for unconventional creations of monolithic sculptures that appear to be hewn from rock.
John lives and executes all of his sculptures in a historic hamlet called Lloydtown, bordering along the village of Schomberg. It is about a 45-minute drive from downtown Toronto, Ontario. His “gallery” is the rustic landscaping he and his wife Charmaigne designed in their large yard. The grounds provide an opportunity for potential clients to see the sculptures in a natural environment.
Ancient Passage Tomb
That early spring day on our trip to Ireland, my wife and I clambered up a remote hillside of heather-covered fields and grassy trails leading to the summit at Carrowkeel where the ancient passage tombs rest. I crawled inside the 5000-year-old structure to observe the architecture of this magnificent monolith. As I stood in quiet contemplation in the dim lit chamber, I heard the wind whistling as it flowed through the narrow stone entrance. The serene sounds of the passing wind swirled around me in a harmonious melody with a feeling as if time ceased to exist within this temple.
S t a t e m e n t
I have always been fascinated with the creative triumphs of the human spirit throughout the ages who have yearned to express their existence and the world around them. My design direction reverberates from faint whispers of the ancient past, at a time when tools were limited and the artisans used purity and simplicity of form to convey an intrinsic message.
Following this concept, all my pieces are best described as blends of ancient and contemporary art in the form of monolithic stone sculptures. The results of my work are subjective translations to one's own personal interpretation of a story.
Exploring the boundaries of ancient symbols and modernism
T h e S c u l p t u r e s
Every sculpture I design has an intrinsic meaning expressed with the compilation of shape, texture and colour. Today's materials are an essential tool that provides me the aesthetic flexibility I require for the manifestation of my designs.
The rich blends of granulated quartz, marble, fine sand, and crushed glass are a handful of the vast materials that I use which enable ever-evolving creative possibilities. Every piece is extremely durable, withstanding the elements year-round.
Because these sculptures are much less in weight than real stone, they can be easily transported and incorporated into spaces that might have otherwise been impossible or extremely expensive to attain.
Come and visit our Garden Gallery to see my sculptures in a natural setting