Fall - 2022

B Y M I CHA E L CHAT F I E LD Portraits of Carmel’s Bohemian Painters A Renowned Photographer Captures the Spirit and Culture of Carmel C armel-by-the-Sea has been a magnet for visual artists for many decades. Through the years, this area’s many moods have served as a muse to photographers and painters both famous and unsung.These two disciplines have many commonalities: practitioners of both strive to capture and freeze a moment in time that evokes emotion and speaks to the viewer. Photographer Randy Tunnell has spent a life- time doing just that. “I’ve always been a photographer,” he says.“This is my life’s work.” Although born on the Monterey Peninsula, Randy worked in other major markets, including a ten-year stint in down- town Chicago.The beauty of the Carmel area would eventu- ally compel him to return. Having spent a good deal of his life on the Monterey Peninsula, Randy has been surrounded by the art the region has inspired, and especially moved by the generations of painters who have striven to reproduce the magical ambiance of Carmel and surrounding areas. “There’s a magical visual aspect to this town,” he says.“The light here has a personality. It’s as much a Mecca for photographers as it is for painters.” Recently, he embarked on a project, “Carmel Bohemian Painters,” to create portraits of those who represent the cur- rent generation of painters active in the area. Randy is a well- established commercial photographer, but during the recent pandemic, much of that work was curtailed.“I realized I want- ed to be around and photograph creative people, and I land- ed on painters.The bohemian culture resonates with me.” When completed, the series will include 60 portraits com- piled in a coffee table book along with biographies of each painter. “I see this as becoming a graphic historical document in the next century,” Randy says. “These artists are all major talents. They are the heart and soul of the Carmel artistic community. Everyone involved has embraced the project and has been generous with their time.” A total of 25 20-by-30-inch prints will be installed at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts from September 2nd through October 1st. Each will be accompanied by an original painting from the artist depicted. In addition, the portraits will be exhibited on easels around Devendorf Park on Saturday, October 8th, during the third annual “Meet the Makers Art andWineWalk,” hosted by the Carmel ArtWalk,Visit Carmel and the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association. Each of the 13 painters featured in this story was asked to answer the question, “Why do you paint?” “One thing I learned about them is that these artists can’t not paint,” Randy says.“They breathe their work.” “These artists are all authentic, dignified characters and I envisioned this series as homage to them and the town they and their predecessors essentially founded. I found a lot of joy in this experience.” For more information, please visit www.randytunnell.com , www.carlcherrycenter.org and www.carmelartwalk.com . 112 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 2