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About Nan Cunningham

From the heritage of a Deep South upbringing in the staid traditions and unsettling turbulence of Montgomery, Alabama in the 50's and 60's, through her academic and studio experiences at Auburn University, to the life of a working artist and teacher; Nan's reflections upon the journey are the artistic records and deep explorations. As expressed in her own words, "it's about The Process, not The Product".

Her process begins with the first touch of the brush to the paint; the paint to the surface; and then movement of emotional energy through the medium. She says, "The brushstroke is the telling thing. 

The moment one puts the first mark on the paper or the canvas, the movement begins the movement of the medium and the emotion. That is how the story begins; with the mark, the first mark. The movement surpasses the subject. If the student, the artist, is honest and the work is honest then it just 'happens' we tap into it... whatever IT is.

The Process

From the heritage of a deep south upbringing, from the staid traditions and unsettling turbulence of Montgomery, Alabama in the 50's and 60's, through her academic and studio experience at Auburn University, to the life of a working artist and teacher; Nan's reflections upon the journey are the artistic records of her deep explorations. As expressed in her own words, "It's about the Process not the Product."

The Magic

But those products are the tapestries and signposts from the world of color and form that she magically crafts for us in paint, and in the hands-on guidance of the engaging workshops for which she is so well known and loved. When asked about the details of that process, she says, "I don't really know exactly where it all comes from, an abstraction, an image or, well, a pot of hydrangeas...whatever the subject that catches my attention... it is, the feeling, the emotion, the light of a good day that shines through it. It's magic."

The Story

"My mother was a naive artist who began to paint late in life, just as I began to teach. Her work informs me to this day, as do the words and works of all my students. She gave me color... her color; a great living gift. We once had a pink house with fish and kites on the ceilings... a crazy, wonderful thing to look upon, to wonder about. It was not the typical house next door, and I am not the typical neighbor next door. I am however, very comfortable in the traditional forms because it is what I grew up with, but I also grew up breaking through these forms... color and light shining through.

The Mark

Nan Cunningham's process begins with the first touch of the brush to the paint; the paint to the surface; and then movement of the emotional energy through the medium.She says, "The brushstroke is the most telling thing. The moment one puts the first mark on the paper or the canvas, the movement begins... the movement of the medium and the emotion. That is how the story begins; with the mark, the first mark. The movement surpasses the subject. If the student, the artist,is honest and the work is honest, then it just happens: we tap into it, whatever IT is.