Adrianus Grootens initially painted and watercolored landscapes, but soon developed a preference for portraits and still lifes. He lived and worked in Dordrecht, Buiksloot, Amsterdam, Oegstgeest, Bloemendaal and Bergen op Zoom, where he attended drawing school at the age of eight. As a painter he was shaped by the lessons of Jan Karsenboom and the advice of Frans Lebret. Grootens was a versatile artist. In addition to being a painter, he was also an excellent graphic artist and glazier. For example, he made the stained glass windows in the citizens' hall of the City Hall in Enschede. In 1901 he gave painting lessons to the founder and editor of the magazine De Stijl, Theo van Doesburg.