Join us for our First Thursday Reception at the Broadway Gallery on January 2, 5:30-7:00 pm.
Start the New Year off by joining us in welcoming our January featured artist Alan Brunk, illustrator. Alan is a longtime member of the Columbian Artists Association and a well-known illustrator of scenes around Washington state. His work is part of a his lifetime of achievements in the art field using ink and watercolor for most of his work.
Enjoy speaking with the artist, visiting with friends, discovering artwork by the artist and having great refreshments while listening to the music by Dan Hoggatt.
Alan Brunk-Illustrator
Beginning in elementary school, I had a strong interest in art. I was fortunate to have a mentor, a local artist, who took an interest in my ability to draw. He helped me with composition and taught me about value shading. His older brother was also an artist and used to follow him around and do drawings of the subject matter that he was painting.
In high school, my interest was directed towards aerospace engineering so when I entered Oregon State, I enrolled in the school of engineering. At the end of my sophomore year, I decided that engineering was not my calling so I changed my major to fine arts and transferred to the University of Oregon where I received a BA in Fine Arts. I applied for the masters program at the University of Washington, was accepted and completed my MFA degree in June of 1961.
I worked for Boeing Company as a graphic artist and a technical artist for two years before I started a career of teaching art, mechanical drawing and shop classes at the high school level. I also taught ceramics through extension classes for Mt. Hood Community College and Clackamas Community College.
In 2001, my wife, Jani, and I purchased some land east of Toutle, WA where we built a home and an art studio/gallery, the Twosome Art Studio. I joined the Columbian Artists Association and for several years was part of Art Trails. I have had exhibits in the Longview area, including the Longview Country Club, the Merk, the Kelso Pub, and the Cowlitz Human Services Department. I also exhibit work through the Columbian Artists Association’s Spring and Fall shows.