While George Tussing was studying art in early 1960’s, Classical and Expressionistic philosophies competed for dominance. At Washington College, at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and at Towson State College, he was exposed to teachers and classmates who were adherents of one camp or the other. The results of painting and studying in this time of philosophical turbulence are evident in his works: they convey a uniform style that incorporates both classical compositions and expressionistic execution.
After receiving his Bachelors in Art, Tussing pursued his graduate studies in Art History at the University of Maryland. Understandably, he paints like an Art Historian: he is interested in the story of a place and his paintings read the record of life as transcribed on hills and rocks and rivers. His work uncovers, follows, and explicates the lives of his subjects, even when inanimate. The movement and play of sunlight and storms and the effects of time all serve to attract and focus his attention.
The fusion
of elements in George’s work releases energy that acts
like a summons to look, to be aware of "a visual world filled with
wonder." George began his teaching career in 1967 at the University
of Maryland, and continued to teach Art History at Old Dominion University
and at Tidewater Community College. All the while, he has maintained
a highly successful painting career. He retired in 2002 in order to devote
more of his time to painting. George explains, "I shall continue
to search for a pilgrim vision. Its very elusiveness is what it means
to ‘live the question.’"
Home | Gallery Info | Artists | VHG Sailboats | Mailing List | Gallery News