Andrew Wyeth 1917-

Andrew Wyeth was born in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania on July 12, 1917, the youngest of five children of N.C. and Carolyn Wyeth. His father was a famous illustrator. Wyeth was frequently ill after suffering from a bout of Whooping Cough at the age of three. His parents made the decision to home school him when he was in the third grade due to the frequency of his illnesses.

Wyeth drew as a child, but was not formally trained until he was 15. N.C. Wyeth began teaching Wyeth academic art skills by having him draw white spheres and cubes on a neutral background with charcoal. Wyeth did the studies of the geometric forms, complete with accurate tone and shadows for many months. He then studied the skeleton until he was able to draw the entire skeleton accurately from memory. Although most of the studio time with his father consisted of traditional academic drawing, Wyeth also spent much time exploring, observing, and drawing the countryside around his Chadd’s Ford home, using pencil and watercolors.

The Wyeth family lived next to a farm owned by a family named Kuerner. Their farm was an inspiration to young Andrew. The family spent summer vacations in Maine. There he met Cristina Olson. Some of Wyeth’s most famous paintings would be of these two places, and of Cristina, whom he painted until her death in 1968.

In 1937, Wyeth had his first Gallery showing at the age of 20. His father selected the pieces that would be on display, and Andrew was an instant success. His show sold out and his career was on it’s way. He was featured on the cover of American Artist when he was only 25 years old.

In October of 1945, Wyeth’s father and nephew died in a tragic train accident. After that, Wyeth’s work became deeper, more serious, more intense. “It gave me a reason to paint, an emotional reason.” he has said. “I think it made me.”

Museums and Galleries over the years held Andrew Wyeth’s work in the highest regard, and still continue to do so today. The Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, Maine once paid $65,000 for one of his paintings, Her Room. At the time, this was the highest price paid by a Gallery for a living artist’s work.

Wyeth, now 83 years of age, still paints all day, everyday. His life, full of creation and success, is an inspiration to both emerging and seasoned artists. About his painting, Wyeth says, “I go beyond the subject. That’s the summation of my art. Emotion is my bulwark. I think that’s the only thing that endures finally. If you are emotionally involved, you’re not going to be easily changed. But if it’s purely a technical experience, that’s going to be very short-lived. Both the technical and emotional have got to be on even terms to be good.”