Art Gunther of Blauvelt, NY, is a retired newspaperman with the former Rockland Journal-News, where he served for 42 years as a staff photographer, writer, and for 20 years editorial page editor. In retirement, he is a painter and exhibits abstract/primitive/realism/minimalism works at various galleries and art centers, including at the Salmagundi in Manhattan. Gunther, who writes a weekly essay at thecolumnrule.com, was named Literary and Visual Artist of the year in Rockland County, N.Y., 2005 and 2010, respectively. He was also Literary Artist for 2021.
The retiree volunteers at the Edward Hopper House Museum and Study Center in Nyack, NY.
Artist Statement
"I approach painting with the semblance of an idea or concept, taken from observation of scenes, objects and photographs. I then begin the process on canvas or wood, never duplicating my observation but taking it for a ride, choosing colors that tell their own story and employing techniques such as overlaying paint, rubbing areas and, on wood, scoring lines. The effect is often abstraction rising from realism."