Stuart Dunkel. His paintings are dynamic, they’re full of happiness. They make me LIKE MICE! What? I never thought those words would come out of my mouth, ha ha. Of course he paints all subjects, but the paintings with the white mice are just so interesting. The titles are brilliant. I love how the light comes through the segments of this orange and you can see the shadow from his little body. Ha ha…
Stuart’s bio and artist statement are so interesting I included both. I love learning about artists, and Stuart’s info will not disappoint! Enjoy his paintings as you look through them… you will smile, no doubt! #theworldneedsstuartspaintings
See more of Stuart’s work via these links:
Website | Instagram | Book | Teaching
Read a bit about Stuart, from his website and get a glimpse into the person that he is. Magnificent!
Stuart Dunkel – Biography
Stuart was born in Fair Lawn New Jersey in 1952 and currently lives in Boston. He began painting and playing classical music at age five and went on to a long career with top orchestras in Boston, New York, and Hong Kong. In 1994 he transitioned from music to fine art where he received his classical training at The Boston Museum School, The Academy of Realist Art in Seattle and Private Study with Ani Graduate Joel C. Jones.
As a contemporary realist, Stuart likes to paint still life, landscape, and animals. He especially likes to paint comical still life scenes with a mouse interacting with an object. He hopes a viewer will find joy, optimism, humor and playfulness, as well as a sense of classical balance and beauty in his work.
His paintings reveal that music and art are made up of the same ideas. Rhythm, harmony, counterpoint, balance, contrast, scales, chromatism, keys, high and low, dark and bright, loud and soft, colorful and dull, can be found in his compositions.
Stuart is Director and teacher of THE NAUTILUS SCHOOL OF REALIST ART in Watertown, MA and is invited to do many demonstrations and workshops. He is a member of The International Guild of Realism, The Art Renewal Center, and the Copley Society of Boston and has won awards and been invited to show at The Guild of Boston Artists, The Copley Society of Boston, The Salmagundi Club, along with other groups and galleries. He paints everyday with his dog, cat, and 3 whites mice in his studio.
Stuart Dunkel – ARTIST STATEMENT 2018
My paintings are autobiographical. They reflect and explore issues in my life. I like to transpose my philosophical ideas into the creation of still life, animal, and landscape paintings. I cherish the teachings and procedures of the old masters, especially the Dutch painters, and encourage my students to explore and continue with these rich traditions. I seek to achieve strong, balanced, and interesting compositions, using movement to lead the viewer through my work. Looking at my art, I would like a collector to find a secret place within them where they discover the knowledge and truth of joy, optimism, humor and playfulness, as well as a sense of classical balance and beauty.
Being a painter, musician and author, sight, sound and words are the tools of my expression. I began painting at age five and at age seven I began studying music. The very discipline of formal training has always appealed to me and I have dedicated my life to the in-depth study of them. I studied music and art at Boston University, Mannes College of Music, the Juilliard School (Doctorate), and art at the Boston Museum School, Kent State, and The Seattle Academy of Realist Art as well as privately with respected teachers.
My breakthrough moment in art was when it was revealed to me that music and art were made up of the same ideas. Conceptual juxtaposition has always been my gift. (I try to balance my left and right brain, yet the right side seems to always win!). Rhythm, harmony, counterpoint, balance, contrast, scales, chromatism, keys, high and low, dark and bright, loud and soft, colorful and dull, jumbled in my minds eye – all the polarities in the arts and indeed in life itself! I have the ability to think of a scene or object and project it on my minds screen and then draw and paint from it.
Major influences have come from the Netherlands artists between 1550 and 1720. Their clarity of image and beauty have inspired me my whole life, in particular, Kalf, De Heem, Heda and Claesz. My early works were Dali inspired and taught me that creativity is that place inside that ideas mingle, collide, and create new ones. The past meets the future on the inner screen between the eyes where reality and fantasy collide.
I usually enjoy the darkest of backgrounds in my still life paintings as it affords the eye the most comfortable place to perceive reality at its beginning. The great Netherlands artist of the 16th century knew this, and many of the most beautiful images are set against a blackish backdrop. This perception enforces my belief that nothing exists until light is draped over it. From the nothingness of black we build up to the perceived objects. As in love, we create the feeling the other inspires in us. As in art, we create the feeling to inspire the others in us. In other words, we must think of the consequences of our actions and what results each brushstroke and image communicates.
Some awards and experiences include: The Art Renewal Center, Finalist, 2011, 2012 and 2013, where I was given the title “ARC LIVING ARTIST” status, The International Guild of Realism has accepted me as a member, Honorable mention, 2010-2012 , The Guild of Boston Artists: NE Representational competition, The Copley Society, Members Summer Show Competition, Sizzle, First Prize winner, July 2008, The Guild of Boston Artists, New England Representational Competition, Silver Medal winner, October 2007, Copley Society of Boston, The Crisp Award, best of show, A-Z, November 2007, Westford Art Show, prize winner, Westford, MA.
My professional life includes teaching art to private students through my school, The Nautilus School of Realist Art, and music at the Boston Conservatory of Music. I have written music, published two books, “The Audition Process: Anxiety Management and Coping Strategies”, and “An Artists Life: Insights to the paintings of Stuart Dunkel”. I also produced a solo CD of myself performing music I have written based on four of my paintings, called “Oboe Colors.” A golden retriever, and cat, and 2 mice that teach me about how to live each day own me.
What a fascinating artist! Catch you back here tomorrow!