The Art & Design of Style
After my recent visit to the Chicago Art Institute where they had a nice collection of American Folk Art, I wanted to cover the topic in my blog. I always admired the work of folk artists as I knew most of them were self taught. These artists produced a lot of work in their lifetime and are classified as decorative rather than aesthetic or conceptual artists. In the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries, these artists principally worked in the North East away from urban centers. They tended to paint local rural landscapes and their style was often raw, expressive and childlike. They used a broad and direct application of paint, stencils, patterns and sometimes a skewed scale and proportion.
American Folk Art, Murals and Furniture
Blanket Chest made of white pine from 1805, collection of the Art Institute of Chicago
Peter Hunt (1898-1969 ) is one of the most well known of folk artists. His style is much more relaxed but his brushwork is precise and I would classify it as tole painting.
To give you an idea of how valued his art can be you can buy this original Peter Hunt table from Antiques and Art for $12,500. He was an extremely eccentric character from Cape Cod, you can read more about him here.
This blanket chest can be seen in person at the American Folk Art Museum.
Painted in 1740, the rural subject matter on furniture is unusual. At the time, trees almost always were painted on walls, not case goods.
The style of the trees however is typical of Folk Art, slightly crude, painted quickly and childlike. It reminds me very much of Folk Artist, Rufus Porter as you can see from the next few images.
A “Tall Case Clock” from Chicago’s Art Institute’s Folk Art Collection. I thought this was a fairly sophisticated piece for the classification of “Folk Art” but it certainly features local rural scenes typical of the style and of course the patriotic flag with eagle. It was painted by artist Uriah Dyer who died in 1927. It was painted in 1884 and built by Silas Hoadley in 1820.
Another folk art piece painted by Peter Hunt. You can see here he worked in some stenciling as well. I spot a little hint of Tramp Art here as well in the apron facing especially at the top.
I love this blanket chest (right) from the The Folk Art Museum in NYC. It is uncertain if Thomas Matteson was the artist but it was painted in 1825 in South Shaftsbury, Vermont. I am completely enamored with it’s whimsical rendition of a faux maple wood grain. Below is another example of a Matteson piece.
These two folk art murals were done by artist Rufus Porter. I am not sure if the mural on the left is inside the Rufus Porter Museum in Bridgton, Maine but I think it is. The one on the right is in New Hampshire at the Hancock Inn.
At the time, imported scenic wallpapers of foreign landscapes were popular but Porter appealed to the less wealthy by offering local landscape murals. He utilized decorative techniques common in furniture such as stenciling and stippling in his murals which were painted on dry plaster.
This modern day interpretation of a Rufus Porter style mural was painted by artist Christopher Gurshin.
New Hampshire artist David Wiggins painted this Rufus Porter style mural which was featured in Country Living.
New England artist Helen Howard and her granddaughter Heidi painted this simple folk art mural in a home located in Sutton Massachusetts which was also featured in Country Living magazine.
From the book “Walls” by Florence De Dampierre, a wonderful example of the way folk artists combined freehand painting with stencils. The image below is also from the same book.
I painted this folk art landscape in a San Francisco Bay area bath. The homeowner is a huge fan of Rufus Porter. I enjoyed working in this style for a change and think she made a wise choice to go monochromatic in a small space.
Rufus Porter wasn’t the only folk mural artist of this period. This is a beautiful example attributed to the Bear and Pears artist of Thornton, New Hampshire. Painted in 1825 with water based paint on lime, sand and horsehair plaster over spruce laths, it is preserved in the American Folk Art Museum. I love the rolling hills in this example. I am curious however why palm trees were often painted in these New England local landscapes?
This is another mural from my collection of torn out magazine images that I have no idea who to credit. It’s at least 10 years old. I love how fresh, clean and modern the room is. The folk art landscape takes on an entirely different feel.
This almost nautical work of folk art painted by artist Michael Rohani looks great framed here in this traditional dining room.
September 15, 2011