Varnished Truths

An original 11x14 oil painting born from instinct, not design — half a face, layers of memory, and emotion in pure color. In this post, artist J.E. Hannum shares the raw, unfiltered story behind the work: a piece that wasn’t planned, but had to be made. Created in the tension between control and chaos, it’s a one-of-a-kind painting that challenges, lingers, and refuses to be polite.

ometimes, creation begins with destruction. In this post, Tri-Cities oil painter J.E. Hannum shares why he made the bold decision to gesso over a finished gallery painting—and how that blank surface became the foundation for a powerful new abstract realism piece.