Description: J. J McVicker (1911-2004) "Cimarron Driftwood", 1949 Modernist Watercolor This rare, early, and fine watercolor is a excellent example of J.J. McVicker's late 1940's modernist watercolors. In this watercolor McVicker paints tree trunks cast up onto the banks of New Mexico / Oklahoma's Cimarron river by floodwaters. Tangled limbs and ditritus deposited along the riverbed uprooted in a long receeded torrent becomes the center of attention. Angular light like spotlighting or theater lighting fixes the viewers attention on the jumbled limbs. The effect the artist achieves is both monumental and surreal. He elevates ordinary and common sights of Oklahoma's wildest and most desolate region to something symbolic and iconic of the Southwest landscape. This watercolor exhibits strength in composition, bold use of blacks, and directionality of light. McVicker's liberal use of saturated black acts as a counterpoint to the colored passages of the composition. The interweaving of angular forms creates an effect similar to cubism. Through his innovative use of black, McVicker achieves much of the same effect as in a stained glass window. The colors in his watercolor compositions are actually enhanced by the direct counterpoint to the liberally used blacks. Just hints of greens, ochres, and blues highlight the picture. When framed under glass, the colors actually become further saturated which even heightens the effect. In the 1940's McVicker's watercolors echoed the Southwestern Regionalist themes of his mentor and teacher Doel Reed, and he established his reputation as one of the Southwest's leading watercolorists and printmakers. Besides McVicker's fame as a printmaker, he was a leading member of the American Watercolor Society, the California Watercolor Society, and exhibited in a large number of national juried watercolor exhibitions. His watercolors are in the permanent collections of both the American Watercolor Society, the California Watercolor society, and he exhibited and won prizes for his watercolors in museums across the country. I purchased this watercolor directly from the artist in the mid 1990's. It had been stored in the artist's print cabinet, and had never been mounted, framed, or exposed to light. It has remained in my print cabinet since I purchased it from the artist in the mid 1990's. The watercolor is in exceptional condition, without flaw, and is in virtually new condition without any fading. You will rarely find watercolors over 60 years old in this immaculate condition! J J McVicker's works were exhibited in, and are in the collections of some of the most prestigious museums and institutions including: His exhibitions include: San Francisco Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Seattle Museum of Art, Museum of Non-Objective Painting (now called the Gugenheim Museum), New York, Chicago Art Institute, Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Denver Art Museum, William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, National Academy of Design, Downtown Gallery, New York, Pasadena Art Institute, Oakland Art Gallery, Isaac Delgado Museum of Art, New Orleans, Library of Congress, United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Carnegie Institute, The Print Club of Philadelphia, Joslyn Memorial Art Museum, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Salon Des Realites Nouvelles, Paris, Galleria Origine, Rome, Whitney Museum of American Art and Momentum Mid-Continental, Chicago. He is included in the following collections: Library of Congress, Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College, Texas, Springfield Art Museum, Missouri, Seattle Art Museum (Northwest Printmaking Collection), Brooks Memorial Art Gallery, Memphis, Tenn., Birmingham Public Library, Chapman Collection, Society of American Etchers Collection, California Water Color Society Collection, Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Wichita Art Association, Chicago Society of Etchers Collection, Philbrook Art Center, Laguna Beach Art Association, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Joslyn Art Museum, numerous private collections and United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Title: "Cimarron Driftwood", 1949 Media: Watercolor Size: 15 1/2" x 22 5/8"; Date: 1949 Signature: Signed and dated lower right; Signed, dated and titled on verso Provenance: Purchased directly from the Artist in mid 1990's; Condition: Never Mounted or Framed; Exceptional condition; Deep saturated colors without fading; Frame: Unframed; Unmatted; Biography of J.J. McVicker (1911-2004) The following, submitted March 2005, is an obituary of J Jay McVicker, "a very accomplished artist who followed behind Mr. Doel Reed as the department chair of the Department of Art at Oklahoma State University". The source is the "Sweetwater News Press". J. Jay McVicker, 92, of Stillwater, died Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004, in Westhaven Nursing Home, Stillwater. He was born in Vici ,Oklahoma Oct. 18, 1911, to Jesse Allen and Clara Mae (Hendrick) McVicker. He married Laura Beth Paul Aug. 20, 1938. She died in 1993. He was an artist and educator. He received his B.A. at Oklahoma State University, 1940 and his M.A. in 1941. He was on the faculty at OSU, Stillwater, 1941 as a professor of art, 1959-77, professor Emeritus, 1977, head department, 1959-77. His exhibits included San Francisco Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Seattle Museum of Art, Museum of Non-Objective Painting, New York, Chicago Art Institute, Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Denver Art Museum, William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, National Academy of Design, Downtown Gallery, New York, Pasadena Art Institute, Oakland Art Gallery, Isaac Delgado Museum of Art, New Orleans, Library of Congress, United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Carnegie Institute, The Print Club of Philadelphia, Joslyn Memorial Art Museum, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Salon Des Realites Nouvelles, Paris, Galleria Origine, Rome, Whitney Museum of American Art and Momentum Mid-Continental, Chicago. He is included in the following collections: Library of Congress, Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College, Texas, Springfield Art Museum, Missouri, Seattle Art Museum (Northwest Printmaking Collection), Brooks Memorial Art Gallery, Memphis, Tenn., Birmingham Public Library, Chapman Collection, Society of American Etchers Collection, California Water Color Society Collection, Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Wichita Art Association, Chicago Society of Etchers Collection, Philbrook Art Center, Laguna Beach Art Association, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Joslyn Art Museum, numerous private collections and United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution. He has exhibits in group shows of prints abroad including Istanbul, Athens, Cairo, Manila, London, Brussels, Lyon, Rome, Vienna, Belgrade, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Mexico, Norway, Casablanca, Saigon, Paris, Bordighera, Lima, Panama and Germany. He is included in "Who's Who in American Art", "Who's Who in America" and "Who's Who in the World." BE SURE TO CHECK MY OTHER ART LISTINGS THIS WEEK
Price: 1475 USD
Location: Arlington, Texas
End Time: 2024-08-22T20:30:58.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Artist: J J McVicker
Unit of Sale: Single Piece
Signed By: J J McVicker
Size: Medium
Date of Creation: 1900-1949
Item Length: 23 in
Region of Origin: Oklahoma, USA
Framing: No Frame or Mat
Personalize: No
Size Type/Largest Dimension: Medium (Up to 30")
Listed By: Dealer or Reseller
Unit Type: Unit
Year of Production: 1947
Original/Licensed Reproduction: Original
Item Height: 16 in
Style: Americana, Modernism, Modernism / Regionalism / American Scene
Features: One of a Kind (OOAK)
Unit Quantity: 1
Handmade: Yes
Item Width: Thick Watercolor Paper - Unmatted / Unframed
Culture: Southwestern
Time Period Produced: 1925-1949
Signed: Yes
Title: Cimarron Driftwood
Period: Post-War (1940-1970)
Material: Watercolor
Subject: Landscape
Keywords1: California Watercolor Society Modernist WPA
Signed?: Signed
Type: Painting
Theme: Art, Nature, Topographical, Western
Original/Reproduction: Original
Production Technique: Watercolor Painting
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Keywords2: American Scene Southwestern Regionalist Vintage
