30 SECONDS IN THE STUDIO
Folinsbee Considered
Sometime in 2022 I acquired a book about the life and work of John Fulton Folinsbee. “Jack” Folinsbee was an American landscape, marine and portrait painter, and a member of the art colony at New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is best known for his paintings of the factories, quarries, and canals along the Delaware River, but he also spent a great deal of time in Maine and bought a farmhouse between Bath and Wiscasset in 1949. At this point, he embarked on a new aspect of his career as a marine painter.
The book “Folinsbee Considered”is the most comprehensive look into the fascinating life and work of this great painter. I’ve been familiar with Folinsbee for a long time now, but this winter I picked the book back up in earnest and dove in headfirst.
This publication has led me to explore in more detail, the work of many of his contemporaries; like Jonas Lie (Lee) Harry Leith Ross, Fern Coppedge, and Robert Spencer to name a few. I knew of all these painters, but now I am digging in a little more and seeing how they may have influenced each other in their work, particularly how Jonas Lie, Robert Spencer and Harry Leith Ross inspired and influenced Folinsbee a great deal. That said, “Jack” Folinsbee was indeed his own person and made it a lifetime journey to explore and find his own voice in American Art. He is truly genius.
In our weekly critique classes ‘David Lussier’s Art Circle,’ I guide the weekly painting challenges, given as assignments to the groups at the end of each class, around both what the group will specifically benefit from, based on what is being turned in, and around the exploration of paintings by other past greats that we look at each week in class.
We have been digging into Folinsbee a great deal. It is a wonderful way to be able to learn and be inspired. By exploring and taking it all into careful consideration, everyone is growing leaps and bounds in these group classes. For Pam and me it is both rewarding and challenging to be steering the ship constantly into uncharted territory. The energy, camaraderie, and work within these Art Circle Groups is nothing short of amazing.
For me personally, I find that by challenging myself daily, much like I do with my students, I am forever in a state of flux and learning, and I am never just standing still. Hopefully, that is evident and seen in my work. It is paramount to a fulfilled life, to be always striving to learn more, and to make painting a lifetime exploration towards finding your own unique voice.
Warm Regards,
David & Pam