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Denton Lund wanted a painting surface in which the procedure itself would be incorporated as part of the composition. He aspired to do more than merely brush paint on top of traditional cotton canvas. He dreamed of being able to work from beneath the surface. After years of study and experimentation with oils, acrylics, and dyes, he has developed a layering and bonding technique to work from within the surface of a painting in order to create greater depth and color. His oil paintings sparkle with a slightly watercolor appearance, fusing together gleaming appliqués of color from the background with the more heavily painted outer surface areas. Denton is one of the few American artists using this technique today. |
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| While most of his paintings depict Native American, Western, wildlife, and visionary themes, he is remarkably versatile in the way they are expressed on canvas and he has developed a style that is uniquely his own. The following describe the fine art oil paintings of Denton Lund: | ||
1.The fine
art of Denton Lund is impressionistic,
but it is a subtle exodus from
realism - a gentle departure.
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2. Versatility in subject matter is a prominent feature of Denton's fine art. Because he is able to move with ease in diverse subject areas, (Western, wildlife, Native American, visionary) this diversity expands his buyer market and makes his art more collectible. |
| 3. A painting by Denton Lund can be enjoyed from a distance and near at hand. The paintings invite the viewer to participate in an adventure that will guide him from the image to the imageless, from striking subject areas to spaces void of lines, yet clearly filled with the flowing movement of Life. The adventure will continue if one looks more closely at Denton's painting. The viewer will be transported into a new world of abstraction where minute appliqués of color and design are discovered and rediscovered. One of Denton's early concerns was being able to integrate abstraction, design, and realism. |  |
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4. Denton is noted for his "montage" paintings that combine symbols and space, creating a combination that is rich with surface movement. Some of his paintings feature rich and somber backgrounds reminiscent of Rembrandt, while others radiate light-filled and soft Renoir-like tones. Regardless of what he renders - a singular subject or montage - a light canvas or a dark one - the style is consistent and reveals creativity, imagination, and sensitivity. |
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5. The visionary paintings of Denton Lund are artistically less restrictive and therefore are able to unleash the greatest creativity. It is in the visionary paintings that Denton is able to more freely allow his imagination to unfold in the rendering of worlds only dreamed of. |
| Denton, a native of New Jersey, possessed a natural artistic aptitude from early childhood and was encouraged to develop abilities in painting and drawing. After serving a tour of duty with the Navy, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in New York City, then received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. After spending the greater portion of his life working in the New York area for major corporations as a commercial illustrator and design artist, Denton moved to New Mexico and began to fulfill his dream of working as a serious painter of Western, Native American, and wildlife themes. More recently, he has moved into the area of visionary art. Deftly combining elements of impressionism with highly realistic portraiture, his art has gained a wide audience and the respect of both critics and peers. Denton currently resides in northeast Wyoming near the Black Hills of South Dakota. |
| I had always believed that if
my paints become PART of the canvas instead of merely SITTING on the surface, I
could attain an added dimension to my paintings. In my desire to create a
stronger, more flexible painting surface, I've developed a layering technique
using various materials and special bonding agents. The result is a much
STRONGER canvas that offers me the opportunity of working from WITHIN
the surface as well as on top of it. I begin with a silk-like material that I attach to stretcher bars. I sketch out the image in burnt sienna oils and while the paints are still wet, I adhere a second layer of material. I use my oils thinned to a consistency as to saturate the layers and I will (again using oils)either develop it further or hold back unwanted areas. The process is repeated again and again, depending on the size of the painting. Large paintings are sometimes layered 4 or 5 times. The adherents I use in my layering process have been developed throughout the past twelve years and I now have constructed a surface that (because it is saturated with color) gives my paintings greater depth and (depending on the final surface material used in the layering process) a smooth or textured surface. Finally, the paintings are lightly varnished and waxed as the old masters did long ago. The layered canvas paintings are extremely strong and durable and can be cleaned with a soft cloth. |
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