Wilson Hunt
Mixed Signals, acrylic gouache on Yupo
What are your earliest memories of being artistic?
As a young child, finger painting and calling the resulting work, Skeleton Bones.
When did art become a pursuit? I painted regularly in the 70s, got into some shows, sold some, wanted to be able to support myself without realizing how hard that might be. For the next 25 years I did not paint, but was consumed by a day job at Harvard College.
Are you self-taught or formally educated in visual art? Formally educated, but without a degree, beginning as an undergrad and two art history courses, followed by studio work at Harvard, Syracuse U,The Museum School, Lesley, Cambridge Center for Adult Ed., Mass Art, Newton New Art Center, and lots of self practice.
How did you first become involved with CAA? Entered a show, RED, was accepted and thereby gained membership in CAA twelve years or so ago.
In what other ways are you involved in the local art community? Show widely in the Boston area and suburbs and as far as Cape Cod Art Association. Have won some best painting awards. Have participated in Roslindale Open Studios a few times. Was a member of Galatea Fine Arts until the fees became too expensive.
The Fabric of Nature, acrylic on Yupo
What role do you think the artist plays in society? I think the artist can bring some beauty into the world and stimulate the visual world of the community and with online galleries like Saatchi and the social media, the wider globe.
What medium do you currently work in and how did you choose this medium? I worked for many years in acrylic gouache and on watercolor paper, later to be replaced by Yupo plastic paper. Currently I paint with Golden Acrylics on yupo. I love the accidental qualities of water paint on wetted paper. I only used oil paint for a brief period in the early 70s.
What is your creative process? Where are you finding ideas for your art these days? Since my work comes out of my imagination and may be influenced by music such as Jazz and by the organic world of nature I find inspiration all the time.
I begin with one of a variety of sizes of Yupo, tape it down flat to a table, wet certain areas of the paper and apply improvisational strokes, one stroke suggesting the next stroke. I don’t have an outcome in mind, but proceed like a musician improvising a tune, a solo. And when I get to a point when it seems enough I stop. All the work is abstract and non-representational
How do you choose your subject matter? Is there a reoccurring theme that carries throughout your work? The influences of music and nature via organic looking forms and considerable energy in the work recur throughout.
In your opinion, what’s your best/favorite piece you’ve made? There are many best pieces, and as for favorites, it’s like asking which of your children is your favorite, the best.
Construction with Red Dot, acrylic gouache on Yupo
What is one of your artistic goals? I would aspire to be a painter that gets some mention in art history courses, and as a painter of color, the only painter of color mentioned in my course was Romare Bearden. I wonder if I’ll make it given my advanced age!
What’s your favorite place to see art? My studio or SOWA
What living artists are you inspired by? Wolf Kahn is inspirational, as is Diebenkorn…but why can’t I think of others? Do artists have to be dead to be remembered?
Do you own any art by other artists? I own art through trades and through purchases.
Do you have any shows coming up? I am in three shows at the moment of writing this; Duxbury Winter Juried Show, Members Juried 1 at Concord Art, and the Members Prize Show at Cambridge Art Assn. I have had as many as 18 shows in a year.
See More Wilson!
Website: www.wilsonhunt.com
Instagram: @wilsonhunt2
Facebook: Wilson Hunt