Example: Edgar Hewitt Nye

So, I have been doing some more research in to the artwork of my great, great grandfather and found many pieces to be listed in auctions from the late 90's to early 2000's. This has been one of my favourite pieces I have found, I like the colours, detail and composition of the piece and I am now feeling inspired to try and paint my own original subject matter in a style similar to his. More on this as it develops, however I have a feeling its going to be a painterly summer for me.

New Findings: Edgar Hewitt Nye

Ever since seeing the BBC television show "Who Do You Think You Are" I have always wanted to research my family tree, both my mother's and my father's, however I had no idea how to do so.


At the end of 2011 to the beginning of 2012 we where written to by a lady called Pat who lived in Australia and was following her husbands family tree (the Nye family tree), the letter was written to my great uncle Robin Nye and then shared with my nan Rita Nye. The letter also said that Pat and some of her family where planning a trip to England in order to find out some more about the Nye family. 


At the beginning of this month Pat and her family arrived in England and at the beginning of this week took a trip up to Oxford to meet with my nan and my great uncle, they came prepared with their findings so far. One relation that stuck out was my mothers great grandfather Edgar Hewitt Nye who through some research of our own we have found to be an American fine/ impressionist artist. This makes Edgar Hewitt Nye my 2x great grandfather. 




Edgar Hewitt Nye was a painter and teacher who was born in 1879 in Richmond, Virginia, and died in 1943 in Washington, DC, where he lived most of his life, except for the years he spent in France and England between 1901 and 1914. He taught privately at his studio.He studied at the Corcoran School and with J.N. Barlow of England. He was a member of the Society of Washington Artists; Washington Watercolor Club; and the Washington Landscape Club. 

Example:

Our Street

"Edgar Hewitt Nye (American/ Washington DC, 1879-1943), 
gouache/watercolor on silk panel
signed and dated E NYE 1920, l.r.
title inscribed on panel verso
19.5" x 24.25"

Other Examples:

I have found it completely inspiring to find out that I am related to such a talented artist from the past. I am hoping to find out more about the Nye side of my family tree from Pat and her family and continue with my own research after they have returned home. I would also now like to visit the American galleries where my great, great grandfathers work is being exhibited and see it in person. I am also planning to post any further findings and examples of work by Edgar Hewitt Nye to my blog very soon. 

Aston Pottery: Exhibition

Mary Knowland: 

This is a photograph of one of the pieces in the exhibition by local artist Mary Knowland. Unfortunately the photograph doesn't do the piece any justice as you cant make out all of the detail. In the painting you can see a number of body parts, I believe these to include a male figure sitting in the centre one leg cocked up as if on a couch and the other down as if his foot was on the floor, hands, fingers, a secondary figure bent down on the floor legs tucked up next to their chest, another leg and that's just at a brief glance. The piece packed a real punch and drew my attention straight to it, it would also spark some interesting conversation between two onlookers. I will be researching in to other works by Knowland as soon as possible and I am also considering attending a drawing class that she runs. More on that as it develops.

. 

 Rod Craig:

This is a photograph of my favourite piece of the day by my favourite artist of the day taken from his website. This painting was located in the corner of the gallery area on the left of the staircase, the piece was eye catching as soon as you walked in to the gallery area and myself and my family flocked around it. In the gallery it was framed and had been double window mounted with board which I had not seen used on a painting before and really showcased the painting. I will be looking at other works by Craig and hopefully continue drawing inspiration from them and start to see my home town in a fresh new light.

The exhibition has made me consider using my time over the summer strengthening my paint skills as so much can be achieved in this media and it remains popular throughout history.

Art Weeks: Aston Pottery

(Front of Shop)

(Tea Room)

(Plants Outside Tea Room)

So last week my dad saw an advert for Aston Pottery in the "Ox Magazine" so today we decided to take a drive out there and see what was on display. When we pulled up the front gate was covered in "Oxford Art Weeks" posters and there was an exhibition of work by local artists in the upstairs gallery.

Walking through the shop you could see the quality of goods being produced and sold, very traditional pottery and items normally found in a garden centre shop but also a variety of unusual jewellery, glassware, crockery etc. 

(Black tulips outside of the entrance) 

(Countryside)

The drive to Aston was particularly inspiring, the sat nave took us through loads of small villages and past fields of growing crops like the photograph seen above. 

The exhibition offered a variety of works by some local talented artists, I will be doing separate posts on each of the artists shortly. 

I would recommend Aston Pottery to any of my classmates or artists who want to see a range of unique ceramic pieces and especially during Art Weeks to see the inspirational works on show. 

Changes:

So, as mentioned in the post below I have had some issues during the "Only Make Believe" project. Approximately eighteen months ago I had an accident with a heavy object and damaged the acromioclavicular joint in my right shoulder, my right am being my dominant arm. Since the accident I have received a range of treatments from medication to an injection in the joint itself, during this project I had my second injection in the joint and since then the am is fine as long as I don't use it for lifting heavy objects or move awkwardly.

My tutors and classmates have all been amazingly supportive and myself and my tutors are now in discussion about an extension for the project and now my arm is okay again, watch this space =]

Exhibition: Work In Progress

So, this week saw the start of art weeks around the county and not to be left out we started our first exhibition of our work from throughout the first academic year. Unfortunately due to an on-going injury to the acromioclavicular joint in my right shoulder during the "Only Make Believe" project I had no work to exhibit and was forced to arrange an extension with my tutors but more on that in another post. 

Having seen the show being put up I must say that I found it inspirational, there was not one piece produced by my classmates in the gallery that I didn't like or learn from. The academic year is almost over and I look forward to the next working with such talented people and I am definitely going to be producing something for the next big show, look forward to seeing what that will be.