Justin Vining profile
Life’s journey takes artist back to his roots
Vining approaches his art with zeal and
ceremony no less. Last summer, he
passion — as well as a keen business
completed a 20-by-40-foot mural which
sense. A plein air painter at heart who
is on display at Clowes Memorial Hall at
enjoys rendering landscapes of Indiana’s
Butler University. “I chase down opportu-
heartland, he noted “I do what I want
nities. I’m a little proactive,” he admitted.
illowy trees with their
W
artistically. I’m fortunate that people
Those opportunities not only bring him
branches blowing in the
want it.
renown; they challenge and excite him.
breeze are a common theme
“I look at my career as a long-term in-
Opportunities like these lead ultimate-
running through artist Justin Vining’s
vestment,” the 36-year-old said. “I want
ly to sales. Currently, Vining has been
work. A windswept tree even appears in
to build it slow and steady.”
prolifically painting, from 6 a.m. each
his logo (above).
Along the way, his work has been show-
In a way, it mimics the unpredictable
cased in some high profile venues which
twists and turns and forays back to his
have given him what he calls “notches in
roots that his life has swayed.
his credibility belt.”
Vining grew up on a farm in Kosciusko
Several of his paintings have been
REMC country in the tiny northern Indi-
featured in the HGTV home renovation
ana town of Etna Green. He then pursued
program, “Good Bones.” His artwork has
an art education degree from Purdue
been on display at former
University and taught art classes for three
WNBA player Tamika
years at Maple Ridge Elementary School
Catchings’ Indianapolis
in Pendleton, Indiana.
restaurant, Tea’s Me
He left art education to pursue a law
Cafe, and his friendship
degree at Valparaiso University. To
with Catchings led to
help finance his education, he painted
him being the first artist
brightly hued landscapes and sold his
to paint at Bankers Life
works while in law school. By the time he
Fieldhouse, during
graduated, he’d sold over 400 paintings
Catchings’ jersey
and discovered that, yes, it was possible
retirement
to pay the bills while working in front of a canvas instead of in a courtroom. Though he is a licensed attorney, for the past seven years Vining has made a living as a full-time artist. He couldn’t be happier.
TO SEE VININGS’ WORK: • Solo exhibition: March 2, 6-10 p.m. Harrison Center for the Arts, Main Gallery 1505 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis (If you go, tell Justin you read about the exhibition in Electric Consumer.) • Online at JustinVining.com/portfolio/
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FEBRUARY 2018
day until midnight, for a March 2 solo exhibit at the Harrison Center for the Arts in downtown Indianapolis. Vining’s studio is located in the center as well. His work has also twice been featured in the annual Hoosier Salon exhibition. Vining addressed the winners of the 2018 Cooperative Calendar of Student Art Contest during a reception and exhibition at the Indiana State Museum last summer. A proponent of art education, Vining said, “Art teachers should cultivate a generation of art appreciators. A stronger art community is good for everyone.”