My Story…
About Hunter Wells
B. 1994
Catherine Hunter Wells was born in Newnan, Georgia. Raised by her mother and grandparents, Hunter grew up in a very creative environment. As a child, Hunter had fun drawing, finger painting, and making Christmas ornaments out of polymer clay. In high school, Hunter continued to take drawing classes and took one painting class her senior year.
In 2013, Hunter began teaching herself how to paint with acrylics while attending Hawaii Pacific University, in Honolulu. During her studies, Hunter was featured in multiple publications of the University’s literary magazine and was selected to participate in a couple of the University’s group exhibitions. She also displayed her work in a local surf shop, sold work out of Art Truck Hawaii - a hip little traveling art show on Oahu at the time, and regularly painted live at Wy’s Galleries in Haleiwa.
Hunter earned her BA in Humanities with a concentration in Art History in 2016. Though she has since relocated to North Carolina, Hunter has carried the aloha with her - continuing to create artworks inspired by God, love, and the beauty of Hawaii.
Artist Statement
For the first several years, my art was mostly inspired by my love of nature and of the Hawaiian culture. I’ve been obsessed with Hawaii since high school. When I moved to Oahu to begin my collegiate studies, the art just sort of took off on it’s own- as there was no shortage of inspiration.
After over 10 years as an artist, my work has gravitated to a more personal space. The overflowing well of self-exploration and a desire to dig deeper and uproot boundaries, both artistic and mental, have undeniably resulted in a shift in my artwork. I am fascinated by the mind, by perception, and how our life experiences shape our view of the world around us.
As my motivations for creating art have become more abstract, so has my work. My artistic style now emphasizes expression over realism, emotion over perfection, and fun over restrictive pressures. I delight in chunky brushstrokes, vibrant colors, and bold contrast. I love creating surreal, dreamy compositions, exaggerated to reflect the emotions that I have personally felt as a result of my incredible life experiences. Most of these amazing experiences revolve around the ocean, Hawaii, and my desire to make the most of the life I’ve been given as I chase my dreams.
I hope my artwork inspires you to live intentionally and to never take the magical moments in your life for granted.