hen I asked Art Cornell how his creativity has developed, he explained, “Painting is an emotional experience for me and one that I hope carries over to the viewer of my works.  I paint it with passion, with angst, with determination to create a unique piece of artwork that is slightly outside the ordinary.  I use color, shapes and texture in a manner that is described as abstract painting but, hopefully, transcends that label.  The viewer of my paintings is invited to suspend reality briefly and interpret each piece on another level. 
     Although I have not been painting long and have no formal training, I am humbled and flattered beyond measure when someone buys one of my paintings.  This in turn makes me push even harder to stretch my mind and abilities to create the next piece.”
     Ted Jordan, a nationally renowned artist now living in the Lowcountry, concurs: “Rarely have I seen a ‘late onset artist’ produce such consistently high-quality, original work.  At a time in life when many hang up their coat and hat, Art has tapped into a very deep reservoir of creativity and personal expression, resulting in beautiful painting, photography and poetry—all of which is nothing short of profound.”
     Nancy Voegele, owner of the Pink House Art Gallery, which displays Art’s work, says: “When I first met Art, I was introduced to his photography and began showing it in the gallery.  I found it intriguing because he chose to photograph scenes of Hilton Head Island that were completely unique.  Then came his books of poetry, which were illustrated with many of these images.  Never one to remain unchallenged, Art began painting his abstract images.  If you stop by the gallery every few months, you will see that he continues to experiment with color and texture and constantly expands his creative vision.”
     Bob Stevenson, owner of Island Ideas Art Gallery, adds “I’ve watched Art progress over the last several years from a talented amateur to an exciting and professional abstract artist.  He started experimenting with different palettes and finally developed the earth tones he now favors.  For Art, texture has become an important facet of his art.  He fearlessly experiments with different substances to the point where the texture of the piece shares equal importance with the actual pigments.  Recently Art has been combining his backgrounds with minimalist action painting.  Perhaps the most important part of Art’s work is that he knows when to stop.  It’s been fascinating for me to watch Art’s growth as an abstract painter, and I’ll be interested to see just where he’ll take his art next.”
     Kent and Sallie Collins, residents of the Lowcountry who have been adding Art’s paintings and photographs to their extensive art collection, elaborate “Art’s art is always a surprise!  You never know from one month to the next what will greet you when you tour his studio. That’s why it’s particularly rewarding to collect Art’s work – there’s a clear evolution going on, and each phase is unique and full of expression.  We’d probably classify Art’s work as “abstract,” but it’s not abstract just for the sake of being abstract or clever.  Rather, it conveys real emotion and depth.  The more you look, the more you see – and feel.”
     Bernard Haag, Manager of the Calhoun Street Art Gallery and owner of several Cornell paintings and photographs, has this to say:  “Art Cornell works in a variety of media, all separate and quite distinct.  Already an accomplished photographer and outstanding poet, Art’s newest passion is abstract paintings.  He puts his heart and soul into his work regardless of media--it is as if he has opened a window and given us a glimpse of his soul.  A classic example of this is seen in his poem “Reflections:”