Welcome to my art blog



A self-taught artist, I have always been drawn towards the macabre. Born a twin on Christmas Eve 1964 in Montreal, my twin died several months after birth. This became a large influence in my creative process; isolation, detachment, duality, haunted visions coming from this astral being that I am forever tethered to.

Art has always been my way to process and filter what I come across, what I am subjected to, or what I subject myself to each day; a way for me to exorcise the demons on my shoulder. The paintings are empathic, often inspired by the individual’s strength in the face of their own weakness. The common thread in all of my works is survival of self.

If a viewer is made uncomfortable by my work, then I have done my job as an artist. I have touched something within them that they are not comfortable with. I want to elicit a visceral response but maintain a sense of the absurd, creating works that are both intensely horrifically personal and humourous.

I am inspired by artists that have celebrated the grotesque: Hieronymus Bosch, Joe Coleman, Otto Dix and George Grosz.

This blog is a progression of my work, works in progress, random thoughts etc. You can join me on Facebook or view a gallery of my work on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27952465@N05/

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Your f(r)iend,

Grant Cunningham

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Narcissus continues...

The work on the Narcissus piece continues... he's grown a pig tail and the figure on his back who will be forcing him to face his own reflection.







Control Freak






There is sexual explicit imagery in this piece, which I don't usually do, but was particularly inspired to do this piece called "Control Freak".  If you want to see the image in its entirety, then you'll have to come to one of my shows.

After The Rain


This is one I did a few years back inspired by my cat Faust. 
Oil on canvas 36"x36"

Friday, August 13, 2010

Narcissus and Fly

A fly caught my eye.  Art happens...

The Narcissus painting begins... but I'm lost for a title thur far.  As I type this fly is on my keyboard... why are you following me????





Thursday, August 12, 2010

Narcissus

A preliminary sketch of my latest piece based on Narcissus.  My idea for the piece is to have the figure staring at his own reflection, the piranhas will be be barely visible and will act as more of a background to the reflection.  I plan on working with a brown palette mostly, leaning more towards the darker tones. I my work with some empty space on this piece, leaving the background mostly empty.