Local artist canvases Lake Nottely
By Justin Melick Sentinel Writer

Al Garnto with one of his Nottely River series

Paint flies around a small studio as a brush swishes, rapidly back and forth across a giant stretch of canvas guided by the hand of a local artist who has embarked on a project that is as significant as it is ambitious. Al Garnto, a native of Blairsville, has completed eight paintings in his Nottely River Series. The paintings in the series feature scenes captured along the banks of the Nottely River.

“I went fishing one day on the river and it just went from there,” said Garnto, commenting on his inspiration for the project. “I’ve lived here my whole life and have always felt connected to the river.” The paintings from the Nottely River series are already in high demand, with collectors vying for the completed ones and commissioning him to do more.

Garnto is a graduate of Young Harris College and the Atlanta College of Art. He is quickly becoming well known through out the South. Garnto is

very versatile artist as he is not limited to any one art form. He has a fondness, however for large format works. His giant murals displayed at several state parks have contributed greatly to his fame. Not long ago, he painted an 85 feet long work that can now be seen on the walls of Alexander’s Store.

Another of Garnto’s famous projects is the Byron Herbert Reece series. In this series Reece, who Garnto calls, “the most famous poet who ever farmed” shows the poet not only with a pen in hand, but also in the fields. These works can be scene displayed at the Young Harris College Library.

Garnto has used his

natural God given abilities and determination to overcome obstacles on his way to becoming a success. Garnto did not receive any formal art training until his entrance into Young Harris College. He has struggled all his life with dyslexia. He attempts to convey the frustration he has felt everyday by blurring words and phrases in many of his paintings.

Garnto is also an avid and talented runner and takes part in many long distances races. He has won as many awards from running as he has for his art work.