Brian Stuart, Artist

For the last few years I have been studying tonal impressionism, a method of painting without drawing which emphasizes tone over line. There is a historical lineage to tonal painting in the Chicago area. First expounded by Max Meldrum, a Scotsman who immigrated to Australia, Max Meldrum taught painting as a science. Tonal painting teaches the practitioner to apply the right tone next to another correct tone. Blending is minimized and the final painting emerges out of an undefined grouping of correct tones or values. Max Meldrum came to Chicago in the 30's and stayed in the home of a painter name Joseph Alworthy. Joseph Alworty mastered tonal painting through his association with Max Meldrum. Today there are 2 people remaining in Chicago who studied with Joe Alworthy. Magdelena Pallasch who inspired me to paint and Dominic Vignola who taught me tonal impressionism.

In addition to painting with Dominic Vignola I have studied under Sally Mason Ryan, M.F.A. and at the American Academy in Chicago.

I have a B.A. in history and have worked in the advertising field for over 25 years.