Off The Wall Magazine Q&A with Allen Bunker
4/1/2019
Maine. I have been coming to central Maine since the early 1960s, when my grandparents bought a camp on Boyd Lake. My wife and I lived in Boothbay Harbor for a while and spent a lot of time off the coast in our little Boston Whaler.
Inspiration. My creativity is driven by curiosity. A blank canvas has no mistakes—only room for improvement. Any stroke of paint is better than none. As the paint gets applied, a million decisions are made. Each one is an exploration into a place never before seen.
Medium. I love how oil paint colors mix and blend with the touch of the knife, and several hours later, I am still able to go back into a painting to create more depth. To me, oil paint is like rich chocolate or a good conversation.
Artist Hero. Although I admire many artists, my creativity comes from within, not from seeing other art.
Studio. I have had many studios over the years: a huge barn I built myself, an expansive open studio in an old mill in Lowell, Massachusetts, and even a small space in the back of my garage. I also had a working studio inside an art gallery I owned with my wife in Boothbay Harbor. My new studio in West Newfield, Maine will be on the second floor of an 1875 barn.
Where in Maine. My wife and I recently purchased an old farmhouse in West Newfield that we are renovating. We also have a camp on a lake in Orneville. As anyone who has ever crossed the bridge at Kittery knows, Maine is a special place. Whether it’s loons echoing across the lake, the local folk who have lived in town their whole lives, or getting your meal from a trap pulled from the water, life is different in Maine.
Fun Fact. I was in Fall in the Four Seasons Fashion Show in third grade. I was attracted to Summer. She wore a bikini.
Education. Like everything else in my life, I took a little education and ran with it. However, many times I was wrong, and I received more benefit from my mistakes. In other words, self-taught best describes me.
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