A slice of Lake Tahoe's Art History
Hi - I write a blog for three main reasons:
Firstly, to help you find unique pieces that capture the beauty of Tahoe and the Sierras.
Second, to give you insight into the process and inspiration behind those pieces.
Thirdly, to let you know more this amazing part of the world, its history and significance through it's art and artists.
To hit at least two of these points in my first post, I wanted to write about how I came up here in the first place, and to share what I have learnt so far about its history in American Art.
We came here after I spent three months touring all over the US, looking for a place to settle that worked for my family but also had the richest ore to mine for my artistic plans.
And we found it in “The Jewel of the Sierras”: Lake Tahoe, a gem that has long captivated artists. I am developing my own artistic voice that captures the spirit of great American outdoors - the picture above is taken on Roundhill Beach, at Dawn on Memorial Day yesterday.
While I am developing that voice, I also want to understand the artists who have come here before. So, I started by researching painters who have also found inspiration in the landscapes of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada and Carson Ranges, and wanted to share some of my thoughts on their work with you.
Here are three painters who played a key role in the history of art up here.
First, this is by Albert Bierstadt, who painted Tahoe in the 19th century. I have been nearly everywhere on the lake now, and can say he definitely exaggerated elements - look at these peaks! - but am sure to give a better sense of the way you feel when you are here in person.
Next and below is from Thomas Hill, a landscape artist of the same era. I think he captures here a stronger sense of place in the accuracy of his paintings, like this of Mount Tallac. His other paintings have a similarly luminous quality and sense of depth from shapes that are simplified and individual at the same time.
Lastly, Maynard Dixon created some of Western American Art’s iconic images, including this painting of the Sierra Nevada. I find inspiration in the rugged beauty of the Sierra and Carson ranges, and Maynard captures something of this in characteristically bold tones and simplified shapes.
So that's it for now - three different artists, who share a common thread with me in their desire to translate the essence of Lake Tahoe and these mountains into moments of serenity and grandeur.
As a landscape artist working in oil, I have the opportunity to tap into this rich artistic legacy but - much more importantly to me at least - draw inspiration from the timeless and (even these days) untamable landscapes of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains.
More of that in the next post - sign up to my newsletter to get these ahead of time, and keep an eye on www.jameswaparker.com and @jameswaparker on Instagram for new work and process updates. For now, thanks for coming on this journey with me.
Take care, James