David Cunningham, M.F.A.

• M.F.A., Indiana University – Bloomington, IN
• B.F.A., University of Evansville – Evansville, IN

2003

Representational oil painting and drawing. As a practicing artist, I combine traditional 15th century Dutch technique with contemporary ideas about space and composition.  Through preliminary drawings, value based underpainting, and multiple thin layers of colors, I create paintings that celebrate three-dimensional illusion inviting the viewer to question what is reality.  My work has been exhibited in galleries across the U.S. It is so highly illusionistic it is often mistaken for photography at first glance.

I tell freshmen interested in studying art to make sure that they get everything they can out of their 4 years…that the choices they make in those 4 years can change the trajectory of the rest of their life. Art is a tremendously challenging major. Success in the marketplace will require intelligence, hard work and skill. My promise is that we will encourage, educate and push them up to (and beyond) their comfort zone. It is up to them to seize the opportunity!

So far we have a 100% acceptance rate for art students wanting to pursue graduate study. This is a coordinated effort between the entire art faculty. All art students take Business Practices in Art which helps students prepare their portfolios and be ready for life after school. Professor Rakic works tirelessly to make sure that our students are well schooled in art history and write clearly and effectively. Finally, our studio courses give students a strong visual foundation in a broad variety of areas.

Grants and Awards

2014

Outstanding Still-Life, 90^th Annual Hoosier Salon Juried Exhibition, Indiana History Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana
The Faculty Award of Excellence in Scholarship, Franklin College
12 Day Residency Award, Pliva International Artist Colony, Pliva, Bosnia

2012

Best in Show, Annual Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition, Swope Art Museum, Terre Haute, Indiana
Rinker Endowment Grant, Faculty travel, Franklin College

2011

Award of Excellence, Annual Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition, Swope Art Museum, Terre Haute, Indiana
Viewer’s Choice Award, Annual Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition, Swope Art Museum, Terre Haute, Indiana
Award of Excellence in Painting, Whitewater Valley Annual Art Exhibit, Richmond, Indiana
Best in Show, Arts Commission 2011, Jasper Community Arts Commission, Jasper, Indiana

2010

Best in Show, Contemporary Realism Biennial, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, Indiana

2009

Award of Excellence in Painting, Whitewater Valley Annual Art Exhibit, Richmond, Indiana
Rinker Endowment Grant for Faculty Excellence, Franklin College

2006

Award of Excellence in Painting, Sali National Fine Art Exhibit, Indianapolis, Indiana

2004

Award of Excellence in Still Life, Irvington Presents, Indianapolis, Indiana
Mary Louise Schroat Award for Realism, 94th Water Tower Exhibit, Louisville Visual Art Association, Louisville, Kentucky
Best Still Life, Best of America 2004, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Lake Ozark, Missouri

Conference Presentations

2015

Allegorical Still Life Painting: More than just objects, Paper presentation at The Representational Art Conference, Ventura, California

2011

Artist as Prophet: Confronting a Youth Obsessed Culture with Its Own Mortality – Paper presentation at the Southeastern College Art Conference, Savannah, Georgia

“He believed in my work and pushed me to work harder and to think grander. He fostered a learning environment that challenged me as an artist and as a thinker. He truly taught me more than how to paint and draw; he instilled a sense of pride and work ethic in me that I didn’t know I possessed.” – Bart Leonard ’12

I have been practicing martial arts for over 20 years, including Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, and Muay Thai. I have trained with masters from around the world including at the Gracie Academy in Brazil.