 |
| West Texas Landscape by Robert Wood |
The gentle
mountains and sparse landscape of west Texas make excellent subject matter for
works of art. The western portion of the state is full of stark colors, bold
skies and a certain emptiness that is appealing to the eye. The prolific artist
Robert Wood captured this unique landscape in many of his works. In particular,
West
Texas Landscape, believed to be
painted sometime in the 1950’s, is a stunning example of the artist’s
work. The color palette and vast scenery
exemplify Wood’s subject matter and style from that period of his career.
The most mass
produced artists in the United States, Robert Wood traveled all over the
country. Originally from England, Wood came to the U.S. after time in the
service and he traveled extensively by rail. Wood lived in Oregon, Ohio and
Florida, before settling in San Antonio from the late 1920’s to 1940. In San
Antonio, he gained a national reputation for his strong dramatic landscape
paintings. Some of that prestige came from his studies with Jose Arpa, a prominent
Texas artist. Wood also gave art lessons, and one of his students was
Porfirio Salinas. Like Texas painters Robert Onderdonk (1853-1917) and his son
Julian (1882-1922), Robert Wood concentrated for a time on the distinctive Texas
landscape. He developed a reputation for his bluebonnet scenes and incorporated
stone barns and rough wood farmhouses into his compositions that added
authenticity and romance.
While still living in Texas, he took extensive sketching trips west all the way to California. It is evident that his 1930's California and Texas works started to show an awareness of the California Plein-Air movement. These more mature works are distinguished by a fine sense of detail reminiscent of late-19th-century American landscape painters. Wood's reputation with collectors grew nationally. He painted the Colorado Rockies in the 1930s and 1940s. By the early 1960s, the Tetons and the California coast made up a significant percentage of his work. He would continue to paint popular Texas landscapes but his style changed. Works from this period are broadly painted with a more chromatic palette. Over the years Wood continued to develop his style; his subject matter remained rural landscapes.
While still living in Texas, he took extensive sketching trips west all the way to California. It is evident that his 1930's California and Texas works started to show an awareness of the California Plein-Air movement. These more mature works are distinguished by a fine sense of detail reminiscent of late-19th-century American landscape painters. Wood's reputation with collectors grew nationally. He painted the Colorado Rockies in the 1930s and 1940s. By the early 1960s, the Tetons and the California coast made up a significant percentage of his work. He would continue to paint popular Texas landscapes but his style changed. Works from this period are broadly painted with a more chromatic palette. Over the years Wood continued to develop his style; his subject matter remained rural landscapes.
Wood's commercial
success is considerable when one realizes that he devoted little to no effort
to promoting his work or gaining acclaim among the art community. He was
included in many shows, and had thousands of reproductions made of his work. At
the age of eighty, the American Express Company commissioned him to paint a
series of six works to be reproduced as limited edition serigraphs for their
Cardholders. Instead of fame, Wood believed in the natural appeal and time
enduring quality which results from serious dedication to one's craft. His
beliefs proved to be true. West Texas Landscape is currently at J.R.
Mooney Galleries of Fine Art to view or purchase.
by: Gina Martinez
