Featured John Westcott Pastel Drawings on Sandpaper

Discussion in 'Art' started by Lithographer, Apr 30, 2021.

  1. Lithographer

    Lithographer Well-Known Member

    I purchased these 2 drawings at a neighborhood garage sale where I grew up, in Kalamazoo. I got them at a house 2 doors down from where I lived. The lady that owned them said her grandfather had a parish in Walton, New York. Apparently the wife of the artist was a parishioner and the church would buy pieces from them to support the family. It sounds like the artist may have had a drinking problem. I found a John Westcott in Davenports and Who Was Who in American Art, listed as a 20th century Brooklyn artist. It says he exhibited with the Society of Independent Artists in 1920, the source cited was Marlor. I suspect these 2 people are the same but I was trying to find a way to put them together. I searched through some of the gravesite websites looking for a burial location, I suspect the artist would have been born in the 1890's? Any help linking these people together would be appreciated. IMG_1423.jpg IMG_1424.jpg IMG_1425.jpg IMG_1426.jpg
     
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  2. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

  3. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Walton, NY is a tiny, tiny town. Someone sure to know of him. Why don't you contact the local historical society?

    https://www.waltonhistoricalsociety.org

    I did find a reference to a John Westcott in a local 2018 newspaper but doesn't give any context. (See Delancey.)

    Debora

    Screen Shot 2021-04-30 at 7.27.39 AM.png
     
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  4. Lithographer

    Lithographer Well-Known Member

    That totally makes sense, the lady that I bought it from made a comment to the affect that the artist lived in either a shed or shack, a cabin sounds better.
     
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  5. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    If I had to make a choice... It does sound better, doesn't it?

    Debora
     
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  6. aietot2

    aietot2 New Member

    same artist, same bridge, different season...yea?
    upload_2022-1-16_15-43-54.jpeg
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

  8. Lithographer

    Lithographer Well-Known Member

    I like your picture, it looks like the same scene. Partial signature looks similar too. I was able to find out quite a bit more info about the artist after I posted. I contacted the lady that wrote the article that Debora posted. I was able to track the movements of his family over several decades. I was not able to link him to the artist listed in Davenports. People on the internet have mixed up the biographical information for a number of different artists with the same name. I was able to find his obit and headstone. When I get a chance I will try to find that info again and post it.
     
  9. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Pardon me, but I must ask = what does sandpaper have to do with the drawing?
     
  10. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Looks like the Blenheim covered bridge.

    Debora

    Screenshot-2019-10-30-at-11.20.42-PM.png
     
  11. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    The second one looks more like the Beaverkill Bridge (but a bit shorter.)

    Debora

    Unknown.jpg
     
  12. Lithographer

    Lithographer Well-Known Member

    They are drawn on a piece of sandpaper.
     
  13. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Thanks. I guess I just don't understand why an artist would do that.
     
  14. Lark

    Lark Well-Known Member

    It was done with pastel . The sandpaper scrapes off larger amounts of the dry pastel than regular pastel paper. It also gives a nice texture. It was probably also cheaper if they did not have much money. I use sand paper to create a pastel powder and then i apply it to a velour paper with a paint brush.
     
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  15. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the explanation, Lark.
     
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