GrantCunningham.ca

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/
--------------------------

Your f(r)iend,
Grant Cunningham

Friday, December 3, 2010

Untitled in Progress....

The title for this work in progress hasn't come to me yet, but I originally started this piece for an absinthe competition I was asked to submit to and I've always loved that tone of green. Haven't decided yet if I'm going to submit this to the competition (I have to paint their logo somewhere on the piece... I'm thinking in the green jewel of the hat... and I can easily paint over it if they decide not to go with the piece).

Monday, November 29, 2010

Red Dye No. 2

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Red Dye No. 2 continues...

This painting is proving a difficult birth. I'm trying to get the eyes "just right" but have not achieved the effect that I was looking for. I've also brightened up the background and I felt the painting has a dirty look to it. I'm debating on having centipedes crawling from the black void where the wallpaper is peeling away, but I think that once I put the patter onto the wallpaper it might be too busy... we'll see.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Red Dye No. 2 - progress

Recently saw the Otto Dix show in Montreal and am currently obsessed with how he painted eyes. I've always considered the mark of a great artist to have the ability to create fantastic eyes and hands... there is no excuse for badly done eyes and hands!!!!