Featured John Westcott Pastel Drawings on Sandpaper

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.

 

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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

 

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.

 

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

Debora

 

same artist, same bridge, different season...yea?

 

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.

 

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

 

Looks like the Blenheim covered bridge.

Debora

 

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

Debora

 

They are drawn on a piece of sandpaper.

 

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

 

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.

 

Thanks for the explanation, Lark.

 

These paintings were done by my great grandfather! The information you have already received about him is correct! I am actually learning quite a bit about him now, from my mother (his granddaughter).

 

He had a cabin, separate from his actual residence (is my understanding from his granddaughter).

 

The bridge that is a focal point in a lot of his work, I believe, is the Fitches Covered Bridge in New Delhi, NY

 

Good stuff. Thanks for the context @folzee.

 

@Lithographer has been seen within the last month. Do hope he's getting this.