Brian Stuart


STATEMENT
 My inspiration is drawn from a lineage of tonal painters who distilled a method of painting that mirrors how the human eye sees the world. I first encountered this method through noted Chicago portrait artist Magdalena Pallasch, a cherished mentor. 

BIOGRAPHY
Brian Stuart received training in art fundamentals from the American Academy of Art in Chicago. Later, studying with noted tonal painter Dominic Vignola, Brian formed his personal style. He continues to study the heritage of tonal painting established by Australian painters Max Meldrum, Percy Leason, and continued by American Joseph Allworthy.

Tonal Painting is a method which emphasizes a non-linear mass-first approach to painting. Mass is represented by light and dark tones that emerge out of the fog of undefined values as the painter develops the subject.