Gallery MAR is thrilled to welcome Clinton Whiting, an artist whose oil paintings capture the electric motion and the vitality of the ski slopes. Whiting’s work, deeply inspired by modernist principles, celebrates the dynamic interplay between subject, texture, and color, offering collectors a bold, fresh perspective on Park City’s favorite pastime.

Whiting’s journey to becoming a professional artist is as layered and textured as his paintings. “I always dreamed about being an artist,” he shares. Yet practicality briefly led him to other pursuits before he decided at age 25 to fully commit to his calling. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a rich and rigorous artistic path, including a transformative graduate program in Rome. “It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he recalls. “Everywhere I went was an education in design and art and life.” Immersing himself in the deep art history of Italy, Whiting was especially captivated by the Scuola Romana and its emphasis on simplicity and expressive storytelling. This influence, paired with his reverence for the ancient and modern, became the foundation of his distinctive artistic voice.

A lifelong student of oil painting, Whiting is drawn to its versatility and materiality. “There’s just something so satisfying about building up that paint and creating textures,” he says. For Whiting, the medium is as much about the paint itself as it is about the image it portrays. His skier paintings, now on display at Gallery MAR, are a vivid testament to this philosophy. These works convey not only the exhilaration of skiing but also the artistry of capturing fleeting moments with calculated spontaneity. “I love the freedom skiing gives you—the rush of being in control but also a little out of control,” he explains. “That’s very much how I paint.”

Whiting’s use of color in these pieces gives his work a unique flourish. His snow isn’t just white; it’s a symphony of hues reflecting the sky and the environment, pushed to vibrant extremes of golden yellow, electric blue, pale lavender, soft peach, and more. “I love snow because I can paint it a different color, but as long as I keep my values correct, it’s still going to read as snow,” he explains. This innovative approach imbues his paintings with warmth and dimension, making them both recognizable and refreshingly unconventional.

Beyond his skill with oil, Whiting’s enthusiasm for art extends to teaching. Though initially reluctant, he has grown to cherish his role as an educator. “I’m able to expand and help others with the knowledge I’ve been given,” he says. Teaching not only provides him the opportunity to shape young minds but also allows him the creative freedom to produce work that is true to his vision.

For Whiting, art isn’t just a profession—it’s a lifestyle. “I live it,” he says with a smile. His weekends are filled with gallery visits, museum trips, and hours in the studio. He describes the joy of encountering work that stirs envy and inspiration, fueling his own creative drive. “I love finding work that I’m jealous of,” he says.

Whiting is eager to share his passion and perspective with Gallery MAR collectors, who he believes will appreciate the nuances of his modernist approach. “I feel so blessed that Gallery MAR believes in my work,” he says. “What I’m doing might be a little unconventional, but having someone like Maren and her team in my corner is really helpful.”

Collectors will find in Whiting’s art a harmony of tradition and innovation, where texture and movement merge to evoke the exhilarating beauty of the slopes. His work invites viewers to see skiing—and art itself—with fresh eyes, celebrating the balance between control and spontaneity that defines both his process and his subjects. Welcome, Clinton Whiting, to the Gallery MAR team!

 

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Written and interviewed by Veronica Vale

Tags: Clint Whiting, Clinton Whiting, Clinton Whiting Art, Gallery MAR artist, Park City Artist, Salt Lake City artist, Scuola Romana, Ski Art, Ski Artist, Skier
Posted in Gallery News