People all over the community have turned to art to enhance their lives. John Hutson is a local photographer who creates abstract photography by starting with an image and applying graphic design techniques to distort the image into an abstract piece. He currently has work displayed in galleries all over Southwest Florida including the Naples Art Center and Marco Island. But he wasn’t always using this unique technique to create his art. He bought his first Mamiya film camera when he was in the navy to take pictures of Japan to send back to his family. After his tour, he took photos for a living, but in the form of x-rays as a radiologist for his career until he retired about 15 years ago. That’s when he went back to his creative photography practice by just shooting anything that drew his interest while he traveled the country. He decided to sell his pieces professionally after he settled in Ft. Myers and drew interest from local craft fairs. He now runs his photography business with the help of his wife, Cristina, who provides an expert eye for him.

He prides himself on the uniqueness of his work. “If someone else was doing this type of work, I probably would try to do something else,” he says. Many who make abstract photography use filters and software to generate the images, but he manipulates the images himself. In fact, it’s hard for him to choose a favorite because it changes from day to day. He loves going to gallery receptions and watching people interpret his work because everyone sees something different in his abstract images. To him, abstract work highlights the artistic ability to visually communicate the feeling of the artist more than the realism of the scene.

He currently uses a Nikon to shoot when he’s not editing also stresses that the art of photography is not about the camera but what is captured in the image. His advice for people who are just beginning the journey with photography he advice is simple, “Just shoot. The more you shoot, the better you get.” He also recommends studying composition to enhance your skills because photography is about conveying what the artist sees through the lens. But ultimately it’s best to experiment as much as possible. You can find his work at his website, www.jhutsonphotography.com.

If this inspires you to tap into your creative side, there are events at the Barron Park House Gallery this month just for you! The gallery offers free admission every Thursday-Sunday from 12:00-5:00 p.m., and this weekend on the 22-23, various artists will be there to demo their skills. Also in March, Jan Ellen will be offering a workshop designed to give students a foundation for bold palette knife painting with personalized instruction. Jan Ellen is a very prestigious artist whose art is located at www.janellenart.com, and her class will be on March 22 and 23 from 9:00-3:00. The price is $160, and you can register by calling Marty at 239-290-6837.

If you know of any artists or artistic accomplishments in the community, please send info to heatheryish@gmail.com.

Heather Caldwell, artist and educator at www.heatheryish.com