About the Artist
David N. Hutto is an artist and designer who works in a variety of visual media. His work has been exhibited in juried shows in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama. He has received more than 60 national and regional awards for design, photography, multi-media, and video production. In addition, he is a writer, director, producer and editor.
One of his poems, When Autumn Comes, aired nationally on NPR’s All Things Considered program. The poem was written at Bar Harbor, Maine and was part of a collection of wordscapes published as a spoken-word album. The release is series of poems and prose featuring multiple voice actors supported by original music and sound effects.
Through a generous grant from a private foundation, Hutto also produced a six-part documentary series, Soul’s Journey, about contemporary professional studio craft artists at work in the southern United States. The programs are being used by art schools, universities, museums, and libraries across the nation.
Hutto also produced and directed Discovering Heartwood, a documentary feature focused upon the philosophy and creative process of renowned British sculptor David Nash.
He has directed and produced numerous other television programs and educational video features that have been broadcast nationally.
Currently, Hutto creates paintings, drawings and digital media in his home studio. He works in acrylics, oil, pen and ink, and mixed media.
Inspiration
Through the years, I have been attracted to the raw beauty of nature that lay before my eyes around Schoodic Bay, Maine. Magnificent designs were all around me – there for the taking. Rock formations that have taken millions of years to find their way to their current resting places fascinated me. Colors that naturally occur in nature sometimes surprised me but at the same time provided motivation to create these new images. Things never stay the same in these silent still lives. The movement of the waves, rain, sand and wind left their marks on each facet of these timeless designs. The endless power of the ocean spoke to me. This place opened the door that I walked through to create this series.
Philosophy
Paintings should be art objects that open doors to the imagination. They are intimate windows that become part of a person’s home. From a distance, they call to us to come closer. They should draw the viewer into them to tell their stories. They don’t turn to mush as we look closely at their surfaces. Instead, they reveal subtle details that surprise us with new paths to follow. A good painting makes us feel something – joy, peace, restfulness, anger, unrest, sympathy or pain. They should make us question or provide answers to the issues of life that surround us. They provide a view of one creative person’s soul.