Story Behind The Artist - Clyde J Singer
One of the many incredible artists featured in this month’s auction is Clyde J Singer, an Ohio native known for his landscape paintings, etchings, and murals. Born in Malvern, Ohio, in 1908, he spent almost his entire life in his state’s rural hills, a defining influence on his work.
“Brook Scene” is a bijou, intensely colored delight, providing is a perfect example of the many little snapshots of nature that characterized Singer. He referred to these styles of paintings as his “bread and butter.” Brook Scene and other examples of his work are available at our upcoming auction.
Part of a family of seven, he took an early interest in art, beginning by making caricatures of his teachers and signs for local farmers. In 1933, he was awarded a scholarship to the Art Students League in New York, mentored by painters John Stuart Curry and Thomas Hart Benton. Curry and Benton were the pioneers of the “American Scene” painting style, highlighting quintessential American life and the people who lived it.
Singer flourished in the romanticism of the mundane; as a regionalist painter, his great love was countryside landscapes. He also captured moments of people in action, for example, at carnivals, standing in bars or windy street corners, celebrating holidays, or looking at pictures. As much as he adored his native Ohio, the seven years he spent in New York influenced some of his later works, introducing more urban scenes into his portfolio.
“Airmail,” signed and dated in 1975, represents the later stages of his artistic career. Here we see the nod to his experiences in the city, where he also rubbed shoulders with the founders of the American Scene of art mentioned above. “Airmail” is available in our latest auction, taking place at the end of this month.
Oil and watercolor being his main mediums, he completed over 3,000 works of art in his lifetime. Many now form part of permanent collections around the united states, including the Chicago Art Institute, the National Academy of Design, and the Butler Institution of American Art.
A stunning example of his mastery of oil on board is “Xmas Surprise,” dated from 1967. It denotes many vital features of Singer’s work, including his desire to capture scenes of country life. The subject of the painting is unnamed, but one could speculate that it could be a close family member. This piece features in our upcoming auction.
Butler was a close personal friend with whom he worked for forty years. Together at the Institute, they sometimes co-directed, taught classes and conducted tours while sharing an office. Of his work, Singer remarked, “Painting to me is the most fun there is,” he died in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1999.
To see these and many more exquisite, unique items, check out our catalogue , and don’t forget to register to bid before our auction takes place on October 27th at 10 am EDT!
If you missed this auction and want to get updates, plus stay informed about the exciting and ever-changing world of art and auctions - whether you’re a seasoned collector or just getting your feet wet. We curate & deliver the most essential & exciting art and auction news, once a week (in a way that won’t make you fall asleep.) Sign up via the form below!