Digital painting of a river that looks white and icy then flows to deep blue at the bottom of the painting. The grass surrounding the river is browning, as if it is Autumn. In the distance is a dark line of trees and the sky above is deeply colored as if the sun will set soon.
Posted on by Beth Nichols

Tradition Meets Digital Art with Doug Hunt Opens Tomorrow

It’s First Friday and we’re open late, come join us!

Postcard that says "Tradition Meets Digital Art, Paintings by Doug Hunt. One one side there is a digital painting of a river that looks white and icy then flows to deep blue at the bottom of the painting. The grass surrounding the river is browning, as if it is Autumn. In the distance is a dark line of trees and the sky above is deeply colored as if the sun will set soon.

This month we’re showcasing Doug Hunt and his new digital work alongside his traditional oil paintings.

Digital painting provides the artist with a ready canvas wherever he is and the means to bring expressive, affordable artwork to the public. Working with digital tools means suddenly having very few limits to creativity. Artists can create almost any canvas size, use multiple layers, make and customize their own brushes, dip into an endless palette of colors–the options are practically endless.

Stop in and see how a traditional artist is using this new medium to paint beautiful, affordable images. Tradition Meets Digital Art, Paintings by Doug Hunt opens Friday, September 4th at Village Frame and Gallery. We’ll be open that evening from 6 p.m. – 9 pm for First Friday at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219.

Digital Art Demonstration with Doug Hunt

Friday and Saturday, September 18th (12 to 5 pm) and 19th (12 to 3 pm)

Doug Hunt will demonstrate the art app “ArtStudio” on his 4 generation iPad. ArtStudio was developed for painters with a very painterly look, complete with dimensional brush strokes and the real possibility to turn your painting into mud if your not careful, just as in real life painting. It’s very user friendly and any artist would enjoy this handy little app both for doing finished paintings and working out ideas. Demonstrations begin at the top of the each hour, so get here early!

Artist’s Statement

Close up photo of artist Doug Hunt
Doug Hunt

As far back as I can remember (and that’s back further than I can remember now) I’ve always wanted to be an artist. I wanted to be a fine artist even before I knew what fine art was. As a young boy I was inspired by the great masters. Who you wonder? Da Vinci? Rembrandt? Well no, actually it was Walt Disney and “Big Daddy” Ed Roth. I cut my teeth on cartoon characters, hot rod art and psychedelic posters. Even in the military, I took advantage of every artistic opportunity and for a year and a half landed a job where my duties included photography and graphic arts. The other two and a half years wasn’t nearly as fun. It was my first practical experience for a lifetime career in graphic art, fine art and photography.

Commercial art and photography was the easy part, trying to fulfill the fine art dream was a challenge. So the path went like this. Three years at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham Oregon trying to figure out how to become a working artist… It wasn’t exactly the staple of the daily want ads. A couple of years doing freelance architectural renderings for home planners and 7 years as a part-time instructor at Mt. Hood Community College. In 1982 I took a position as illustrator for the American Military Club System in Wiesbaden Germany. If you’re surprised such a job exists, trust me, so was I! I loved living in Europe and absorbed experiences that would later show up in my work. I loved working for the government somewhat less however, so after a year I came home to resume my freelance career. The majority of my work was detailed illustration work mostly pen and ink. My fine art tended to be looser in an attempt to escape all the precise work I did on a daily bases. In the mid 80’s I began painting with oil pastels and paint sticks. Pens and pencils to paint sticks was a natural transition for me and with that my fine artwork became more impressionistic.

The dream of becoming a fine artist was never far from my mind and in 2001 I found my opportunity. I was picked up by an art rep and started producing 20-30 originals a month for sale nationally. I also got involved in the etching process and was producing hand colored etchings.

Whether working in oils or creating an original print hand pulled from a press, I find great enjoyment in working from my imagination. As I look at my paintings, I have to think that they are influenced by an underlying desire to escape, to be somewhere quiet and unhurried. My favorite pieces are always those that have a sense of calm … just a sunny open space and an inviting path to nowhere in particular.

Digital painting of a river that looks white and icy then flows to deep blue at the bottom of the painting. The grass surrounding the river is browning, as if it is Autumn. In the distance is a dark line of trees and the sky above is deeply colored as if the sun will set soon.

 

One Reply to “Tradition Meets Digital Art with Doug Hunt Opens Tomorrow”

  1. Mr. Dough Hunt
    I have enjoyed looking at your painting, beautiful landscape on Digital Art.

    I have been painting, in my PC, creating nice Landscapes, presented to viewers
    by Fine Art America (FAA) in New York.
    I am interested to learn how to frame my digital art work
    Thank you for your courtesy to answer my note

Comments are closed.

Village Frame & Gallery, 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219 ● (503) 245-8001
Open Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 5pm, and Saturday 10am - 4pm, or by appointment.