TJ Cunningham - The Wonder of Being in the Landscape (41)

08/16/20 • 92 min

TJ Cunningham grew up in Vermont in an area that was also a favorite place for Aldro Hibbard and Emile Gruppé to paint. If you have ever visited that part of Vermont as my wife and I did a few years ago, you probably call to mind the beautiful hills, mountains, woods, and streams. And nestled snuggly in that beautiful setting are the small farms graced with red barns and cozy homes that beckon to a simpler time. Just as Hibbard and Gruppé found inspiration among this landscape, so does TJ Cunningham. Though he no longer lives in Vermont, the intense desire to capture the beauty of the landscape continues to burn in his heart.

I first met TJ Cunningham back in January of this year at the Booth Western Art Museum. He was one of the exhibiting artists of Plein Air Painters of the Southeast that was on display at that time at the Booth. On exhibit there was a hauntingly beautiful and moody painting by Cunningham called Near the Beaver Pond. On seeing that one painting, I knew I had to meet TJ and eventually have him on the Artful Painter.

In this edition of the Artful Painter, TJ talks about what he drawn to paint, the importance of preparation before painting, and the unique tools and materials he uses. He discusses how outdoor painting is part of the preparation process. We also talk about his transition from gallery representation to his now being 100% self-representing in his home studio and his beautiful website.

TJ was featured in the September 2014 issue of Southwest Art magazine in the series 21 Under 31: Young Artists to Watch in 2014. How true that admonition was, for today TJ’s paintings are an impressionistic tour-de-force. When you examine his paintings up close, you get a sense that TJ relishes not only a beautiful scene, but also the act of making the painting. In many ways looking at the surface of his paintings it’s not clear just how he made those gorgeous marks and textures. Using a variety of mark-making tools, he leaves a compelling mystery for the viewer to ponder. Each painting by TJ Cunningham exudes the wonder of being in the landscape.

Mentioned in this episode:

TJ Cunningham Website: https://cunninghamfineart.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.cunningham/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJ.CUNNINGHAM.ARTIST/

About the Artful Painter

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Mentioned in this episode:

TJ Cunningham Website: https://cunninghamfineart.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.cunningham/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJ.CUNNINGHAM.ARTIST/

About the Artful Painter

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John Pototschnik - Paintings That Speak to the Heart (40)

John Pototschnik is a fine art painter who resides in Wylie, Texas. As a young boy, his parents instilled in him a strong work ethic. Doing chores, selling his mother’s cookies door-to-door, and having a newspaper route – all these experiences would lay the foundation for how John approaches the work of being a professional artist today. He began his professional career as an illustrator. The discipline of meeting deadlines, and being attuned to a client’s needs further honed his creative skills. After ten years of working as an illustrator, John made the leap to working full-time as a fine art painter.

However, that leap did not come without challenges. For example, in order to overcome the tendency towards using highly saturated colors common to illustration work, John dove into an intense period of experimentation with color. In time, that experimentation led to using a limited palette. Mastering the limited palette proved to be key in achieving beautiful paintings with high dynamic range and expressive color that John is known for.

Today, students rave about John's color workshops. You may recall in a previous episode of the Artful Painter that Amanda Lovett shared how attending John’s color workshop was transformative to her. John recently wrote a book about color for artists: Limited Palette, Unlimited Color – which also has a companion instructional video.

John's paintings may bring to the viewer’s mind childhood memories, but that is not necessarily his primary intent. His desire is to create something beautiful that draws people in. He considers himself primarily a landscape painter. He loves small-town neighborhoods and the atmosphere found in those neighborhoods. He captures the beauty of those small towns and rural landscapes – both outdoors and in his studio.

John Pototschnik's mastery of color and values – all using a limited palette – lead to beautifully harmonious paintings that speak to the heart.

Mentioned in this episode:

John Pototschnik

Website: https://www.pototschnik.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnpototschnik/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.pototschnik.96 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC96O82yNud1UXJZUmOuWtEg

Book: Limited Palette, Unlimited Color https://lilipubsorders.com/products/limited-palette-unlimited-color-book

Lorenzo Chavez: https://www.lorenzochavez.com Tehila P. Eisenstat: http://www.tehila-art.com

About the Artful Painter:

Next Episode

Len Chmiel - Making it His Own (42)

Len Chmiel has no interest in merely copying what he sees. He says that he allows his "intuition to speak.” His intention is to expand the boundaries of realism rather than merely painting a facsimile. While many artists lament having artist’s block or a lack of inspirational ideas, Len is not one of them. He is keenly interested in all that is around him and the possibilities that they present. He says there is more than a life-time of ideas awaiting his easel. He does not let others dictate what he should paint. Rather, he paints what interests him.

Len first appeared in episode 12 of the Artful Painter. I knew in having that first conversation with him that there was still much more to his story and experience. Thankfully Len reached out to me recently and said he was ready to talk. In this conversation Len shares his thoughts on the importance of knowing who you are as an artist. He discusses the importance of doing a mental reset when observing familiar things so that you see them with a fresh eye. He delves into the importance of experimentation and trying new things in order to grow as an artist.

Len’s entries into the 48th Annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition and Sale clearly demonstrate his virtuosity in developing new ideas in a painting. His three entries are a diverse range of subjects. One painting features scrub jays breakfasting on the rose hips of a spent wild rose bush (Scrub Jays Breakfast Menu... Rose Hips). Another painting shows aspens aglow with sunlight above a cool mountain stream (Solar Collectors). And another depicts lily pads calmly floating on the surface of a pond, basking in the sun (High Summer). These diverse, gorgeous paintings by Len Chmiel make it clear, he is intent on making each his own.

Mentioned in this episode:

Len Chmiel Website: https://www.lenchmiel.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lenchmiel/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lenchmiel

Len Chmiel - An Authentic Nature in episode 12 of the Artful Painter https://carlolson.squarespace.com/artful-painter/len-chmiel-an-authentic-nature-12

Book: Len Chmiel, An Authentic Nature, by Amy Scott (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2IIXef8

About the Artful Painter: