Chip Dutton Art

Chip Dutton was born and raised in the rolling hills of Northeast Ohio. As with most youngsters raised in the '60s and '70s he spent most of his time outside enjoying sports and the outdoors. His father introduced him to golf at the age of 5, and he developed a love for baseball and basketball as well.

In the 7th and 8th grade he was fortunate to have caring art teachers. They would take students to art shows, art museums and even extra classes on weekends and summer break. Art and gym class were a top priority for Chip.

As a high school freshman in study hall, he was approached by the high school art teacher who invited him to his art class in place of the study hall. Chip jumped at this opportunity, and studied under this teacher for four years.

Upon graduating high school, his career interest was split between art, and a professional golf career, as Chip played golf on the high school team for all four years. After being offered a staff position with a PGA professional, he embarked on his golf career. In the back of his mind, he knew that he could one day pivot to artwork if golf didn't work out.

The golf business treated him well for 25 years, 20 of which he spent as a PGA "Class A" head professional. Though his art career was put on the back burner, he found time now and then to continue to draw.

He would end up leaving the golf business and took a position managing a marketing/advertising business in South Carolina. Between raising a family and coaching a lot of baseball for his son, he was still finding time to work on his drawings when he could.

Chip is now retired and living in South Carolina, and is afforded the time to enjoy creating every day. He was recently introduced to a new technique by another artist, charcoal drawing on canvas.

This technique intrigued him, as it allows for wonderful detail and a "finished piece" when complete, as it isn't necessary to matte, frame and put under protective glass like you would for these drawings on paper. The finished piece can be displayed "right out of the box" saving additional time and investment.

Chip enjoys drawing many subjects but is particularly interested in the animals of nature as they offer the challenge of capturing the personality of each subject.