"Above the Sea of Round, Shiny Backs the Thin Loops Swirled and Shot into Volumes of Dust."
N.C. Wyeth (1882-1944)
Illustrator or artist? The question plagued N.C. all his life. He is best known as the illustrator of children's classics such as Treasure Island and others. The more he succeeded as an illustrator, the more he was troubled by self-doubt. "every piece of or work that I turn out is a pain to me because I can see clearly that it is inferior to that great thing that might be done." This quote from the biography, N.C. Wyeth, a biography by David Michaelis.
After reading this biography and seeing more of N.C.'s paintings, I see him as a great artist and will post more of his work in the weeks to come. The Denver Art Museum is currently exhibiting work by his son, Andrew Wyeth and grandson, Jamie Wyeth. I don't know of any other American family of artists quite like the Wyeths.
For a complete description of the difference between illustrators and artists, a fellow blogger, illustrationart.blogspot.com explains this fully. But you have to look at his October 5, 2011 post. Thank you!
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| 120 Great Paintings of the American West. Dover Publications. Minola, New, York |
After reading this biography and seeing more of N.C.'s paintings, I see him as a great artist and will post more of his work in the weeks to come. The Denver Art Museum is currently exhibiting work by his son, Andrew Wyeth and grandson, Jamie Wyeth. I don't know of any other American family of artists quite like the Wyeths.
For a complete description of the difference between illustrators and artists, a fellow blogger, illustrationart.blogspot.com explains this fully. But you have to look at his October 5, 2011 post. Thank you!
I love this painting. You really find some interesting work Nat. I was a tad confused when you wrote NC I immediately thought North Carolina, duuh. Interesting that all three of these men became artists. Our son-in-law paints but not one of his kids do so.
ReplyDeleteThe whole family painted including the daughters. I think the propensity is genetic, but then one has to have the passion. From the art exhibit I saw in Denver, Andrew and his son painted every single day.Jamie said he did not know what a "weekend" was until he married. Thanks, Jo.
DeleteI think of illustrators as artists who happen to bring to life the written word or the common lives of everyday people (like Norman Rockwell). I'm not a big fan of the American western themed art or illustration, but I do like those that include the American Indian life. Whether one is better than the other (art or illustration) seems mostly a matter between artists/painters and illustrators, a method of division or hierarchy. Hence the terms: fine art and commercial art, divisions that were used when I attended art school.
ReplyDeleteBesides my example, which I used because of the permission thing, I will try and post non-western paintings of his. He was so good that to read about his self-doubt is sad. Did the struggle make him a better artist? And interesting to note that neither his son Andrew or grandson became "illustrators."
ReplyDeleteThanks, D.G. Are you still painting?
DeleteI love the Wyeth family. I went to the museum in Brandywine, PA and back in college, one of the nuns who was my roommate's art teacher, took her and I to the Portland Art Museum (Maine) to see an exhibit. As you know, Andrew painted quite a bit in Maine. He's an artist. Norman Rockwell is an illustrator.
ReplyDeleteI live near the Wyeth home and museum and it is always fun to visit. I love to hear about the stories of this most interesting family.
ReplyDeleteHi Nat - what an amazing painting ... I can certainly feel the dust swirling around, and feel the horses flesh anxiety as they are corralled or rounded up ... brilliant art-work. The family were musicians too ... and I'm sure if it's in the family - it comes out in the younger generations ... though it didn't in ours - well not our side! My grandfather was a major civil engineer and his sister was accepted into the Royal Academy ... it has come out in other branches.
ReplyDeleteLove this and I'll enjoy hearing more .. cheers Hilary
He is, indeed, an amazing artist!
ReplyDeleteHello Natasha. I haven't gone to look at that other Blog yet but it always struck me that the difference between illustration and art is redundant. Fine Art is often produced on a commission or for a patron thus eliminating the commercial distinction. In my Artist of the Month series, I once included London Transport posters because they deserved the recognition.
ReplyDeleteCLICK HERE for Bazza’s fabulous Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
Because fine art is often a commission, many artists were in the employ of Cardinals, etc. And if one is paid, what is the difference? Think of the Sistine Chapel. I guess the work speaks for itself.
DeleteJo, Jo, Starting Over, Hilary and Evy. For a few days I could not print anything. After having a computer service check, guess what? My keyboard needed batteries! Ah well, thank you for commenting, hope I can be more consistent about answering now.
ReplyDelete