Influential Artists: The Art of Edgar Payne

[@ronschlorff7089]

Edgar Payne is my hero, he painted in the Sierra Nevada in California and the southwest where I live today near Tucson. I have his book on composition, and all serious students of landscape painting should have it and read it often. It's full of helpful gems that will improve your paintings. He worked hard all his life, and only after his death, did he really achieve a great following for his art, especially among traditional landscape artists of today, as people in the 20th century longed for beautiful art again, having "suffered" through the "modern art" period, which still continues today, of course. His work is an inspiration for those seeking beauty in nature, in an often-ugly world otherwise, and are willing to go to the ends of the earth to find it. I actually painted for week, with an artist friend from Reno, staying at one of Payne's old camp sites, he used in the 30's and 40's, at 5th Lake, in the Sierra, at 10,000 feet elevation, a few miles south of the small town of Bishop, along hwy 395, in an area called Little Lakes Valley. Many of these Edgar Payne works, shown here, are depictions from that very area, as he worked there en plein air, and later often used his field sketches for larger studio works, such as those with the multipeaked mountains you see. I did make several oil sketches in the area, in 2005, and later a few larger paintings from those as well. I'm sometimes asked, "where is 5th Lake?", and I say, "it's just between 4th Lake and 6th Lake", LOL, which I've been to those as well, and also painted there. The whole area is wonderful for mule packing into to paint with a friend or friends for a week, to just eat, sleep, and paint!! : )

[@martimajor4766]

I’ve lived and been to these places. Am so grateful for you posting these images which are my memories.

[@darcymanwaring1489]

Thank you,the art is so beautiful with the music it brought tears to my eyes. The way life should be.

[@judyheim6998]

Please keep doing these. They are fantastic.

[@consueloyoung4484]

Can’t get enough of this incredible work of art!❤

[@DaneSellersStudio]

Me too! Edgar's work is jaw-dropping!

[@robhead22]

Great to see !! Thank you!

[@jeff.j759]

👍👍👍🌹🌹

[@danthomas6587]

Jack the dripper.