Today we’d like to introduce you to Wyatt Bunce
Hi Wyatt, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in Ketchum Idaho, in the house next to where Ernest Hemingway died. The house is exactly as he left it in the 60s, and it has a strange power to it. I remember being curious about him before I read his stories. Who was this ghost next door? In college I was determined to become a writer. I felt an overwhelming urge to create, but I didn’t yet have a voice. I wrote heavy stories and felt like I needed to create with seriousness in order to validate my choice to go into the arts. I put pressure on myself and felt confined by my ideas about writing. At night I would draw in oil pastel and give myself total freedom to create like a child. It was a way to blow off steam. I liked bright colors and my sense of humor peeked through when the stakes felt low. I was addicted to the freedom and playful nature of this work that soon evolved from oil pastel to painting. That’s when things started to click for me and when my art started to resonate with people. When I listened to what came out of me naturally I heard a gentle, uplifting voice. At its best, my art communicates joy, and it seeks to delight. I had to get out of my own way to let it be anything but serious.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Long periods without inspiration can make you question why you’re an artist and if you’re an artist. I try to just stay in motion during these periods. I keep putting one foot in front of the other, and I try to paint every day. But it can feel like walking through mud– going through the motions– and it has, in the past, been accompanied by financial stress. My world feels smaller in these periods. But I’ve seen enough winters to know that summer’s around the corner. It’s a cycle that exists no matter how much success you have, I think.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a painter. At its best, my work is exciting and joyful. There’s a comedic, playful spirit to my paintings, and they often evoke stories that extend off of the canvas. I’m proud that my painting style is unique. I paint in a distinct line style that originated in my sketchbooks. I wanted my paintings to mimic the pen lines I used in my sketchbook, so I started painting lines on the canvas.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about LA is its open-minded spirit. This spirit allows people to dress and express themselves freely and (mostly) without judgement. There’s a sense that you could paint your body blue and walk down Melrose Ave and no one would really bat an eye. This freedom makes LA a wonderful place to be an artist.
What I like least about LA is how long it takes to go to the grocery store, buy paint materials, or get a haircut. It takes a long time to get your essential needs met because everything is spread out. I could get a lot more work done if errands didn’t take 2 hours.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://artbywyatt.com
- Instagram: @wyattguzybunce
