O’Neill Cushman

Personal Website

Society of Irregulars Artist

Professor of Painting and Drawing

Hometown: Washington, DC

Currently in Aix-en-Provence, France

Second Home: Vermont

“Begining with a blank canvas, I look out at some part of the world in front of me. I find something that feels significant, something in which one could sense one’s place in the universe. I look very hard at it - into it, and at the same time into myself - and I paint what I see. My opening strokes define the direction I will head in during this painting - they define the scope of what will appear on my canvas, they begin to define the colors, they begin to give life to a feeling of their own. I used to do a little lay-in drawing of my objects - an outline - but I’ve found that doing this removes the spontaneity of the “mistakes” that may end up being among the most interesting parts of the painting. The work grows organically because I have not limited it. But I stay focused on the trajectory of my painting as it develops, so it stays cohesive. I almost always learn something.

If I am true to my experience and to myself, I’ll have a good starting point. And if I am true to what I am creating, the whole time I am creating it, I will come away with a painting that is whole and alive, and in it will be that part of perception where the world and I meet. I’m calling it Phenomenological Expressionism.”

-O’Neill Cushman

Phenomenological Expressionism

Background

O'Neill holds a Masters of Fine Art from Plymouth University's Transart Institute, and teaches drawing, painting, ceramics, art history and art criticism at the Institute for American Universities in Aix-en-Provence. He spent years studying with the Marchutz School in Aix as well.
O’Neill’s early art experience actually comes from his time in high school theatre set design. At Kenyon College O’Neill pursued a degree in Philosophy. O’Neill studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence where he was introduced to painting at the Marchutz School and this is when his visual art practice fully commences.
To see some of O’Neill’s series visit here.
Oil Paint, Watercolor, Goauche, Colored Pencil, and China Marker
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