Itinerant Robert William Wood "Quick Draw" stamped

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Double your traffic. Get Vendio Gallery - Now FREE Robert W. Wood (1889-1979) Home on the lake oil/board 7x19 This is a nice example of the early imagery produced by the artist Robert W. Wood (1889- 1979). Typical oil on board work of the period between 1912-23. His earliest work so far is dated to 1912. During the Seattle days (1919-1923) he worked as a window artist. Folks could observe the artist at work at the front of paint stores, etc. Many artists of the day produced these quick paintings in places of high foot traffic to keep their limited cash flowing, as they improved their abilities, and toured (sometimes in rail boxcars, like Wood). Robert set up a studio in Portland, Oregon somewhere in the yr. 1923, and began rubber stamping his works, both with artist logo, and another one with name and address. This is one of those paintings. He actually began stamping works before leaving Seattle as a few do surface with a Seattle stamp. A great deal of this early work was never signed, stamped or marked in any way. He only remained in Oregon for less than a yr., and Shortly thereafter he went on with studies in Texas and eventually became the icon of the landscape he is known as today. These are the paintings that launched his amazing success. This painting is in very good original shape. Slight contact impressions here and there, and one long one, but nothing affecting the paint integrity and no signs of any repairs or touch ups. Size is common 7x19 (image). It is framed in it's original standard for Wood from the period. The painting has his Oregon stamp on the back. New dust cover and hanger. Happy to answer any questions, and thanks for viewing. Early 20 th Century American Artists of the Quick Draw Since the early beginnings of the technique in oil painting known as the wet on wet method, artists have adopted, and adapted this technique to their own rendering style. The notable John Fery has been credited with this ‘Invention’, out of his need to quickly produce oil sketches of the landscapes his early commissions with railroad interest required. These sketches were later used as reference imagery in producing his final paintings. The vast wealth of Victorian America had a strong influence in the development of the viability of quickly painted landscape scenes. More folks had money for such impractical things as original art. This was true not only in the industrial east but into the mid west, and out to the west coast, where the California Gold Rush days spawned huge agricultural development, shipping, and industrial centers, to meet the needs of a strong migrating population. With these conditions many aspiring, and largely untrained artists found they could create fairly simple easily repeated patterns of imagery familiar and pleasing enough to supply a demand from the common folk. Art was no longer a thing afforded by the rich upper class, or dictated by them. Art had made it to the streets, and with that a sort of cooperative effort brought the artist to the windows of the streets, which attracted curious onlookers, and was seen as good advertising by store owners. From the street artist, came the window artist, or demonstrating artist. Popular scenes could be churned out in rapid succession and many were revisited in different sizes. Most all of these works were produced on lightweight paperboard, or the popular inexpensive Upson Board, which was a long staple of the roofing industry. By the early 20 th Century great numbers of artists were involved with not only the method and style of this work, but also in the marketing of the day. Painting on the streets, or in the windows of department stores, paint stores, etc. Some went on to set up studios, and further their experiences with formal training. Many never changed a thing and seemed to advance (technically) very little in quality of the work or methods of sale, during whole lifetimes of pursuit. Often these artists toured or roamed in search of fresh markets, and t... read more

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