Wilson Hunt
About | Wilson is an abstract expressionist painter and fine art photographer. After a degree in psychology, he has studied widely in art schools in and out of Boston. His work often employs acrylic on Yupo from 26 x 40 inch sheets, some cut down to smaller sizes. He works with brushes and silicone scrapers and sometimes palette knives.
Natural forms and colors are inspirational, often to be contrasted with geometric lines and shapes. He improvises fully. One brushstroke suggesting another till arriving at a strong form. He hopes to avoid working in a tight way and to stop before that occurs.
Painters like De Kooning, Diebenkorn, and Joan Mitchell have influenced him. His work has been described as energetic, and self described as busy. In all likelihood, some of that energy probably derives from feelings about the American Dilemma—a euphemism—racism and genocide. In that sense his work, that expression, is healing because, the anger is sublimated.
Q&A
What are your earliest memories of being artistic? I have an early memory of finger paints that I titled: Skeleton Bones.
When did art become a pursuit? Having discovered art again in college via art history courses, I began to take studio courses there in the Visual Studies department.
Are you self-taught or formally educated in visual art? I am formally educated but don’t have an art degree.
How did you first become involved with CAA? Having often seen the University Place Gallery, it seemed a natural progression to join CAA.
In what other ways are you involved in the local art community? My involvement and friendships with other artists are my main connection to “community”. Somehow I have closer photography connections than my relationships with painters. I’d very much like to change that.
What role do you think the artist plays in society? Among other functions, the artist is the canary in the coal mine.
What medium do you currently work in and how did you choose this medium? After working in collage, watercolor, gouache, and acrylic gouache, I landed on hard body acrylics; I am loving the sheen.
What is your creative process? Where are you finding ideas for your art these days? The process mirrors the improvisation in jazz. Art being emotion, there is never really a lack of ideas. I don’t paint every day. The urge to take brush to paper grows or continues; an example is my painting, Insurrection.
How do you choose your subject matter? Is there a reoccurring theme that carries throughout your work? The process is the recurring element. I very often begin by wetting parts of the Yupo and put two colors on a wide brush, Van Dyke brown and Prussian blue, then slowly lay down the mixing colors in a rough Wabi Sabi way. I try to maintain balance on the page. I add Titanium white to soothe the rough, “natural” beginning strokes. It goes on from there, with one stroke suggesting others.
In your opinion, what’s your best/favorite piece you’ve made? My older favorite painting is the home page image on my web site titled All Inclusive. My current favorite is Fabled Persuasion.
What is one of your artistic goals? When I took art history, there were hardly any black painters in the canon. I’d like somehow to be one or at least, attempt to.
What’s your favorite place to see art, and why? Favorite place to see art is SOWA. Love the carnival atmosphere of First Friday, and the calm of most days to really look.
What living artists are you inspired by? I am inspired by Shar Coulson, Ilana Manolson, Hannah Bureau in painting. In photography, Laura Valenti, and so many others I’ll not try to name.
Do you have any shows coming up? The Fine Art of Photography at Plymouth Art Association. An obliging open studio in Roslindale, always.
See more from Wilson
Website: wilsonhunt.com
Instagram: @wilsonhunt2
Facebook: Wilson Hunt