Athol Tufnell

My journey into art began many years ago, taking many twists and turns along the way. My interest now lies in the area of Creativity and how that emerges.
It has been apparent to me, over the years, that there have been two types of art that appear in me.
One comes from mental ideas and the expression of those ideas that are thought-out and designed to create an effect. These can be very clever and conceptually valid ideas, but at their core I have found them to be essentially inauthentic.
One can admire a painting for its skill and workmanship, its cleverness and mastery of the media, but, in the end, it can still seem dead to the heart and have no meaningful connection.
The second kind of art that I have experienced Is far more interesting to me. This is art that appears ,seemingly from somewhere other, with little or no thought involved.
It comes from the mystery of life if and it's source is unknown. It happens in the moment and is not artist-led. It leads the artist and tells the artist what it wants to be. As Picasso said ‘It is not about searching, it is about finding’
An African sculptor who I met told me that he would find a rock in the dessert and place it under his pillow at night while he slept until it told h...

Brighton College (UK public school)
Harrow School of Pottery
Eastbourne College of Art
Camberwell College of Art (London) BA (Hons)
Sussex University (Diploma in Counselling)

Yew Tree Gallery
Covent Garden Fair
Worcester Guild Show
Hatfield House,Hatfield
Three Pears Gallery
The Chelsea Gardener
The Old Barns, Holme Lacy
NEC, Birmingham