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sonality are equally important. After all,
she is a storyteller, and stories call for
characters. In fact, it’s the Golden Age
illustrators and artists such as Norman
Rockwell (1894-1978) whom Gutting
cites as “masters of creating narrative
with imagery.”
While Gutting’s paintings often ema-
nate a certain nostalgic sensibility, as if
the scenes could have taken place in a by-
gone era, her work also refl ects contempo-
rary life. In THREE HATS, TWO HORSES,
AND A SODA, for example, she keeps the
piece grounded in the present by includ-
ing a takeout soda cup and straw.Three Hats, Two Horses, and a Soda, oil, 24 x 30.
fi rst saw Gutting’s work at last year’s
Night of Artists show. “Abi brings to
the table a perfect balance between
loose impressionism and detailed real-
ism, which I really like in paintings,”
McLarry says. “People gravitate toward
her work because of many elements. The
texture she puts into the work is master-
ful. You really see the hand of the artist.
And the movement she captures brings
excitement to her paintings.”
Getting the animal’s anatomy and
musculature correct is a key goal for Gut-
ting. But she is quick to point out that
capturing a creature’s character and per-intimate knowledge of her subject mat-
ter,” he says.
SO FAR 2019 has been a busy year for
Gutting. She has participated in an ar-
ray of invitational shows, including the
annual American Miniatures show at
Settlers West Galleries in Tucson and
the Night of Artists event at the Briscoe
Western Art Museum in San Antonio,
TX. This spring she also added McLarry
Fine Art in Santa Fe to her roster of rep-
resentation.
Gallery owner Chris McLarry says he