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Wyeth Family Tradition: Wonderous Strange III

© Jenn Greenleaf

"I search for the realness, the real feeling of a subject, all the texture around it . . . I always want to see the third dimension of something . . . I want to come alive with the object." - Andrew Newell Wyeth (b. 7-12-17)

The above quote best describes the core of his work. As the youngest of five children, Andrew's influence was quite strong - especially from his father. Due to his lack of good health as a child, his father took it upon himself to home school Andrew. This gave Andrew the perfect opportunity to grow under his father's wing, explore his father's studio and develop his own talents as an artist.

"Although celebrated as a great American artist, Andrew Wyeth has generally offered mystery rather than certainty in his art," says Susan Larson, "Admirers who characterize him as a painter of calm certainties miss the odd, willful, and marvelous incongruities lying in wait within the best of his work."

Andrew Wyeth was always determined to follow his own artistic path, not his father's. Documented conversations and excerpts from letters reveal his admiration towards his father, though his desire to be individualistic radiates in his creations. His work, often described as private or isolated, mirror his love for his surroundings:

"Maine to me is like going to the surface of the moon. I feel things are just hanging on the surface and that it's all going to blow away. In Maine, everything seems to be dwindling at a terrific speed . . . Up in Maine I feel it's all day bones and desiccated sinew." - Andrew Wyeth

Andrew is the best known artist in the family. He still lives in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania where he was born. Ironically, his studio is very close to the house he grew up in. He still vacations to Maine every summer and tries to keep his life as private as he can. (As challenging as that must be!) His last exhibit was May 29, 1999 at the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, Maine. I don't get out to Rockland very often, myself, but when I do this museum is at the top of my list of sites to see.

"His creations are observant, independent, quixotic, romantic and never 'merely real." - Thomas Hoving

His work reminds me of that of a photographer's . . . only, instead of using photographic equipment, Andrew Wyeth uses a paint brush. Truly a magician with capturing light and dark . . . in order to create something you can almost touch. I am mesmerized by his use of watercolors and tempera while dwelling on the mysteries of individual personalities. (Although, the inspiration he gathered at his father's deathbed, as described in the previous article still clings to my mind more than anything else I have read or written about this notably talented artist.)

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