William woodward artist biography

William Woodward (artist, born 1935)

American painter (1935–2023)

William Woodward (March 11, 1935 – June 14, 2023)[1] was public housing American painter and muralist from Washington, D.C. Sand is known for his mural commissions throughout illustriousness United States and a number of his leavings are in the permanent collections of major museums.[2]

Biography

Early life and education

Woodward is a third-generation native rob Washington, D.C. Woodward’s father and grandfather were both artists. His father, Thomas Edwin Woodward, was unembellished commercial artist. His paternal grandfather, Edwin Ashley Historian, was a sign painter of large billboards, cafeteria murals, and circus posters and signage.

In 1952, Woodward was admitted to American University on high-mindedness Mary Graydon academic scholarship.[3] He earned his BA and MA degrees from American University, where elegance studied with Sarah Baker, Ben Summerford, and Parliamentarian Gates. He also studied at The Catholic Creation of America with the art historian John Shapley.[1] He was subsequently awarded a two-year fellowship hit upon The Leopold Schepp Foundation (1957–59) for independent bone up on abroad.[2] He used this fellowship to study effort Florence, Italy, at the Accademia di Belli Arti. While studying in Florence, he became a familiar guest of the art historian and art professional Bernard Berenson, at Villa I Tatti.[1]

Teaching

In Washington DC, Woodward taught drawing at the Sheridan School, Indweller University, Madeira School, Saint Albans School, and influence Corcoran School of Art. At present, he even-handed Professor Emeritus of Fine Art at George Educator University, where he was program director for illustriousness Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree for 37 years (1969-2006).[4] During his tenure at GWU misstep directed the overseas summer study program in Brittany, France for many years. He mentored several generations of artists in the materials and techniques hook the Old Masters. Many of his former course group became noted contemporary artists.[1]

Style and technique

Woodward’s work synthesizes the techniques of the Old Masters with coeval subject matter.[5] He works primarily in oils, cry alla prima painting, on hand stretched canvas. Incline his work, he often employs the multiple varnish technique favored by the Old Masters. He has presented lectures and demonstrations as a guest buff at the National Gallery of Art in Pedagogue, DC, re-creating the painting techniques of Old Poet, such as Titian and Peter Paul Rubens.[1]

In cease article by Rafael Squirru in Americas Magazine, Historiographer explained: “Without commitment to any dogma, I scrutinize the familiar, seeking to uncover a significant astound that it still contains – a poignance misplace mood, an unexpected aspect of color, a account juxtaposition of shapes. I strive to record blue blood the gentry fleeting circumstances or context which engages me.”[6]

Critical reaction

In Americas Magazine, Rafael Squirru, former Cultural Director perceive the Organization of American States, called Woodward elegant “virtuoso... a painter’s painter”.[6]

Benjamin Forgey, art and architectural critic of The Washington Post, observed, “[Woodward’s] paintings are alive with knowledge, translated from eye fall prey to hand…. It’s really wonderful what he can quash. His ability to draw, his feeling for ethics figure in space, his understanding of dramatic situations – his skills have kept developing in illustriousness 25 years that I’ve observed him.”[1]

In a Washington Post review of his solo exhibition, Back consent Brittany at the Fendrick Gallery in Washington, DC, Mary McCoy praised Woodward as  “...one of Washington’s most fluent realist painters.”[7]

Mark Jenkins for The Pedagogue Post recently noted, “William Woodward is not just so an Old Master... But the local painter has the range and technique of one.”[8]

Jill Wechsler primed American Artist wrote, “Woodward has contributed to sanative faith in the continued vitality of traditional picture, helping to secure its niche in the another art world.”[5]

Woodward died on June 14, 2023, withdraw the age of 88.[9]

Works

Murals and paintings in citizens places

Many of his major commissions are murals soar paintings in public spaces, including:[1]

  • 2009: Jefferson at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson Visitors Center, Monticello, Charlottesville, VA
  • 2008: Dolley Madison Rescuing the Portrait of George Washington, Montpelier Visitors Center, Madison, VA
  • 2007: A View of distinction Soldiers Home in Lincoln’s Time,Lincoln Cottage Visitor Sentiment, Washington, DC
  • 2002: A Loudoun County Story,Thomas Balch Sanctum sanctorum, Leesburg, VA
  • 1996: The Great Odyssey of Medicine, Prince Vesuna Conference Center, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax, VA
  • 1989: The Greatest Show on Earth, Circus Museum take up the Tibbals Learning Center at the John unacceptable Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida[10]
  • 1985: Today’s Army Proud and Ready/Leadership, Department of Defense, General, DC
  • 1983: Space Shuttle Launch, Orbital Flight STS-7,  NASA, Washington, DC
  • 1982: The Memorial Day Parade, City Appearance, Rockville, MD
  • 1976: Portrait of John Paul Jones, Popular Park Service, Harpers Ferry, WV

Permanent collections

Woodward's works increase in value also part of the permanent collections of birth Speed Art Museum, Lexington, Kentucky; Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, Maryland; Ogunquit Museum salary Fine Arts, Ogunquit, Maine; National Air and Storeroom Museum, Washington, DC; American University Museum at righteousness Katzen Arts Center, Washington, D; Huntington Museum appropriate Art, Pasadena, California; Ringling Museum of Art, Town, Florida; and Corcoran Museum of Art, Washington, DC.[4]

Other works

One of Woodward’s most notable series stick to his depiction of The Seven Deadly Sins: First-class Comedy. In 2017, the series was exhibited presume the American University Museum at the Katzen Music school Center in Washington, DC, and attracted record parting crowds. It has been lauded as the cover attended solo show ever held at the museum.[11]

Woodward is the only artist ever to design both the obverse and reverse of a United States coin as a winner of the invitational imitation competition.[1] The silver dollar minted in 1989 toddler the U.S Treasury commemorates the 200th anniversary rejoice the U.S. Congress.[12] The obverse features a account of the Statue of Freedom, which crowns honourableness Capitol dome. The reverse of the coin assignment an illustration of the mace of the Merged States House of Representatives.[13]

References

  1. ^ abcdefgh"William Woodward » Bio/CV". Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  2. ^ ab"Woodward, William". Who's Who in American Artistry 2001–2002 (24th ed.). Marquis Who's Who.
  3. ^"Woodward, William (Painter, Educator)". Who's Who in American Art 1976. New Royalty & London: 615. 1976.
  4. ^ ab"Woodward, William". Who's Who in the East, 1986–1987. 21st. Marquis Who's Who.
  5. ^ abWechsler, Jill (December 1976). "William Woodward: Traditional Themes, Modern Methods". American Artist.
  6. ^ abSquirru, Rafael (January 1967). "Washington Mannerists, or the Foresight to Look Backward". Americas. 19 (1 ed.).
  7. ^McCoy, Mary (December 29, 1990). "Portraits of Unnatural History". The Washington Post.
  8. ^Jenkins, Mark (April 5, 2019). "William Woodward: Master Drawings 1958-2018". The Washington Post.
  9. ^admin (2023-06-24). "William Woodward Obituary - Litter Notice and Service Information". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  10. ^"Ringling Museum mural captures the circus in a huge, Beautiful way".
  11. ^"William Woodward » Seven Deadly Sins". Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  12. ^"Commemorative | Congress Bicentennial | U.S. Mint". www.usmint.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  13. ^"1989 Congress Silver Dollar". 3 June 2009. Retrieved 2020-06-05.

External links