Daily Diversions by Chuck Tingley

It's no secret that I love art.  Having lots of artistic friends, I get super jealous when I see someone create beautiful pieces when I'm having a hard time trying to draw a stick figure (I can never get the legs to come out the same length!)

One of these artistic friends is the insanely talented Chuck Tingley.  I've known Chuck for about, I'd say, a hundred thousand years.  I used to work retail with him back in 2002...now I feel old.

Fast forward a few years, and he's absolutely made a name for himself in the Buffalo art scene.  He's been published in Artvoice, The Public, and Spark Magazine, had solo exhibitions at the Olean Public Library, El Museo Gallery and High-Temp Fabrication.  He's also been included in group exhibitions at the Burchfield Penney Art Center and the Erie Art Museum.  He has executed numerous public murals in Western New York, including that beautiful mural at Artpark (yeah, THAT one) and most recently Art Alley in Niagara Falls (read my post about Art Alley HERE!)  This year he was also honored by Arts Services Initiative of Western New York as a Finalist for the "Artist of the Year" Spark Cultural Award.  Wait...I've never been nominated for "anything of the year."  I think I received an award for "Student of the Month" in middle school once.  Not really the same, though.

Chuck doesn't only work on the large-scale mural spectrum.  He loves to create smaller "notebook sketches."  According to the artist, "These sketches started as a diversion from my everyday painting routine and soon because the catalyst for an open and fluid exchange of thoughts and ideas, while creating some permanence to what would otherwise be forgotten.  Working on a smaller scale than my other paintings and murals also allowed me to execute the drawings with a sense of immediacy and intimacy as I delved into the visual world of my own personal nostalgia."

Chuck's notebook sketches will be on display starting Friday, October 7th at Studio Hart on Allen Street in Buffalo.  The opening reception runs from 6-9pm.  If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing any of his pieces in person, you definitely won't want to miss this.  The exhibit runs through October 29th.