By Gerard Flanagan, news writer and photographer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Growing up, Campbellsville University senior Nathanuel Hunt said he always struggled to interact with people his age, instead preferring to watch TV and play video games.
During those times, Hunt discovered a hidden talent.
“However, by redrawing the characters I favored and making up adventures in my head, I soon found a way to use my art to help bring out my inner illustrator and storyteller,” Hunt said.
Hunt will put his artistic talents on display during his Senior Art exhibition, which kicks off March 13 and runs through March 17.
A reception for Hunt is Friday, March 17, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at The Pence-Chowning Art Gallery, 205 University Drive, Campbellsville.
Gallery hours at The Pence-Chowning Art Gallery for the spring 2023 semester are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Hunt’s exhibit, titled “Me, Myself, and I,” will also be displayed at the gallery.
In his artist statement, Hunt of Lebanon, Ky., noted, “Years later, I learned that other people on the autistic spectrum also have this creative drive but also have difficulty expressing their ideas.
“Seeing art as my escape, my goal is to use my combined knowledge of art, religion, and psychology to help others, disabled or not, find their inner creator and express who they are without feeling isolated.”
In May, Hunt will graduate from Campbellsville University with a Bachelor of Science in Art Area.
“No matter what I create, every artwork is a reflection of who I am as a person,” Hunt said.
By connecting with others on a spiritual, emotional, and mental level through the
problems we all face, Hunt said he believes his art can help people acknowledge these issues and think about ways to change them for the better.
“With all of this in mind, I sum up my creative process as me just using my God-given gift to create original worlds that bring out anybody’s inner child while still exposing the dark truths of our world. All while still respecting the opinions of my audience.”
He works primarily in both drawings made with Prismacolor pencils or charcoal sticks and paintings made with acrylic or watercolor paint. Although these are his primary mediums, he has made artworks with ceramics, sculpting, screen-printing, Adobe Illustrator, and Nomad Sculpt.
His biography states, “No matter the medium, his work centers on combining common issues that people with mental disabilities have with the messages of the Gospel and how the latter can help one deal with those internal struggles.”
His interests include focusing on becoming a cartoonist, voice actor, and social media activist while still finding time to be with his loving family (dogs included).
“Whether it is replicating what I see in the form of a still life, creating make-believe yet relatable characters, or reflecting my mental struggle through emotion-evoking art, I
strive to breathe as much life as I can,” Hunt said.
“So much so that the audience experiences life in my shoes and through my lens to the point where they can almost touch my subject.”
Hunt added that this becomes apparent in his surrealist and cartoonish pieces. Hunt said the surrealist pieces “help me vent out my mental struggles and reveal how the bad news I see constantly as well as my common failures affect my mind.”
Describing his cartoonish pieces, Hunt said they are “more lighthearted as I end up creating new worlds where my characters can flourish and interact like we do and, in turn, learn from our problems and solve them from their perspective.”
Hunt has been awarded a Kentucky Tuition Grant, KEES Scholarship, academic scholarship and KEES Matching Scholarship. He has appeared on either the President’s List or Dean’s List for each semester at Campbellsville University.
Hunt earned membership in the National Society of Leadership and Success in June 2022.
He has also served as head secretary of the Art and Design Club at Campbellsville University.
Hunt is a member of 3Trees Church in Campbellsville, where he supports efforts to help both local businesses and low-income families obtain much-needed supplies via the Captivate ministry.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.