American painter Andrew Wyeth dies at 91

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

American painter Andrew Wyeth dies at 91

By PATRICK WALTERS, Associated Press Writer – 14 mins ago

PHILADELPHIA – Artist Andrew Wyeth, who portrayed
the hidden melancholy of the people and landscapes of
Pennsylvania's Brandywine Valley and coastal Maine in
works such as "Christina's World," died early Friday.
He was 91.

Wyeth died in his sleep at his home in the Philadelphia
suburb of Chadds Ford, according to Hillary Holland,
a spokeswoman for the Brandywine River Museum.

The son of famed painter and book illustrator N.C. Wyeth,
Andrew Wyath gained wealth, acclaim and tremendous
popularity. But he chafed under criticism from some
experts who regarded him as a facile realist, not an
artist but merely an illustrator.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090116/ap_on_en_ot/obit_andrew_wyeth

[hadrons]

1. I have a newscast on Andrew Wyeth day at the White House circa 1970

Here it is: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x260463

[Maine-ah]

2. RIP, Mr. Wyeth.

I was informed this morning before the family announced it to the media. I've been waiting to post about it.

An incredible talent has left us, and we will be reminded of him through his beautiful art work. The Farnsworth Museum will be open to visitors through the weekend to view his works. A great man, who lived a long life, and contributed greatly to our community.

[rucognizant]

11. My Wyeth Story.............

My Father had just been down to NC Wyeth's studio, recently, and met him before he and his Grandson were killed on the train crossing in Chads Ford. I was 6 years old but I remember the pall of sorrow in my house.
Fast forward................1965?-'66?, we lived in Philly, and had viewed what we THOUGHT was the student show at the Pennsylvania Academy of FIne Arts.
One watercolor painting, of violets growing by a log in the woods, caught our imagination. Our conclusion? This student is REALLY talented and should go far!
We always came to Maine for vacations, and that summer, saw an exhibit at the Farnsworth, of the Wyeth family Christmas drawings, letters, and cards.
"Oh maybe that guy ISN"T a student?" That fall the Phila. Inq. Sunday magazine, features Andrew Wyeth, after one of his paintings had brought the highest price ever paid to a living Artist.
"Gee! This guy definetely isn't a beginner!" With the hubris of youth I picked up the phone and called the Wyeth studio, talked to Betsy and asked about buying my husband art classes with Andrew for a Christmas present. She kindly told me that he didn't teach but suggested that I call his sister Caroline.
SO that winter/spring, we drove out to Chadds Ford every Saturday, and while Ed was drawing with Caroline, the kids and I hung out at Hank's dinner and sketched scenes around Chadds Ford. One day Andrew came by and gave the kids a tracter ride up through the orchard behind his Father's studio. We were invited to a show of Caroline's work in Philly, and Jamie, ( still in High school) had a few pieces in the show as well.
A mural by NC Wyeth, the cloud pictures with the children on the beach, was on the stair landing down to the children's room at the Phila. Main Library, so we got to see it every time I took the kids in for books.
That was the style of life, on the income of an Artist, back in the 60's 7-0's...............Hopefully we will return to it.
My condolances to the Wyeth Family. Andrew earned a good karma, living to 91 and dying in his sleep!

[brentspeak]

15. That's a great story

[Rebubula]

3. Life

Life is fleeting...art is Immortal.


Thank you, Mr Wyeth.

[all.of.me]

4. My absolute favorite artist. RIP. nt

[Aristus]

5. Maybe I'm an idiot, but I never knew that the girl in "Christina's World" was disabled.

I just thought she was resting in the field when her attention was suddenly drawn to the farmhouse. It was always an emotionally ambiguous painting, and now it has even more layers of emotion and ambiguity.

[closeupready]

13. I have always loved "Christina's World". His death makes me sad.

RIP. :cry:

http://www.jssgallery.org/Other_Artists/Andrew_Wyeth/Christinas_World.htm

[bitchkitty]

19. If you're an idiot, then I am too.

I've always loved that painting, but I felt she was just lazing in the field, that she had stolen a momemt for herself from the kids or housework, but was still keeping a watchful eye.

This completely changes the perception I had of the painting. I still love it though.

[nolabear]

6. I'm proud to own

two small studies that Wyeth drew. One is a duck carcass hanging on a wooden door, just a tiny part of what would become a painting. The other is the branch of a tree with a big bolus and hornet's nest. They're beautiful in their black-and-white simplicity.

Wyeth has always been one of my favorite artists, for his tender attention to detail and his love of the subtle palette, the wheats and the winter colors. I have a book of his Helga paintings, and if those paintings weren't an expression of love I don't know what is!

Rest in Peace, Andrew Wyeth. You left us much beauty.

[livetohike]

7. R.I.P. and thank you Mr. Wyeth

One of my favorites "Master Bedroom"

[1776Forever]

8. "The Helga Pictures" are my favorite of his works........

http://www.andrew-wyeth-prints.com/helga.html



"The Helga Pictures" are a fantastic compilation of tempera and dry brush paintings, watercolours and pencil studies secretly created within a span of over fifteen years. Andrew Wyeth created over two hundred and forty individual works of neighbour Helga Testorf from 1971 to 1985 without telling a single person, including his wife. He stated that he would not have been able to have finished the project with everyone looking at it.

.....The Helga pictures have since come into the ownership of a private Japanese interest, which continues to allow access to the works through select public exhibitions.

..........

Thanks for posting -
:hi:

[Maine-ah]

9. I have that pic, signed by Helga.

I was lucky enough to wait on them several years ago, however, they came after closing, and did not leave me a tip. The next day, she came back with a tip, and a signed pic.

[1776Forever]

14. How wonderful for you!

:woohoo:

[lunatica]

10. Farewell to a Master Artist

[Doctor_J]

12. RIP. He was a friend of another great American artist, John Stewart,

who passed away a year ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stewart_(musician)

http://www.chillywinds.com/

http://www.sonic.net/roadman/bloodnotes/jsmt05-08/tribute.htm

[girl gone mad]

16. He was our greatest known living artist, I think.

he left an amazing body of work.

[Chemical Bill]

17. I've always loved his work. n/t

[EconomicLiberal]

18. Master Bedroom

Beautiful!

[brentspeak]

20. Here's something interesting: the man who bought the "Helga" paintings died earlier this week

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/arts/design/13andrews.html?fta=y

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

21. he and Charles Schulz were fans of each others' stuff

Schulz(wrongly) thought little of his cartooning success. He beliebed (wrongly) that he was merely a commercial producer and wasn't capable of producing fine art. He once expressed his frustration to an interviewer by stating "I'll never be Andrew Wyeth" The line eventually turned up in Peanuts when Linus gets frustrated with his inability to draw.
Another reference - Snoopy had an Andrew Wyeth hanging in the doghouse.

At some point during Peanuts' 50-year-history, Wyeth started sending Schulz notes of admiration and the two became friends through their correspondence.

Wyeth was the last of the great masters. You'd be hard-pressed to name another living painter whose name is recognized by the general public. The closest I can come up with would be jasper Johns, but he's no where near as well-known as Wyeth.

[Blue_Tires]

23. i was about to mention that

sadly, the primary reason i even know his name is because i saw it mentioned in the strip..

[Norrin Radd]

22. Peace to Wyeth.