Originally an architect, American Modernist painter Oscar Bluemner transitioned to painting full-time in 1910. Help us transcribe his painting diaries from 1911-1912 to discover what tips helped him develop technique in his early painting career.
Originally an architect, American Modernist painter Oscar Bluemner transitioned to painting full-time in 1910. Help us transcribe his painting diaries from 1911-1912 to discover what tips helped him develop technique in his early painting career.
This 161-page painting diary features a rich set of notes on theory and technique, as well as sketches in pen and crayon. Though Oscar Bluemner (1867-1938) struggled financially and with recognition during his lifetime, he is now widely acknowledged as a key player in the creation of American artistic Modernism, alongside better-known colleagues such as Georgia O'Keeffe and John Marin.
The 1911-1912 diary entries are titled "First Painting Diary, 1911-" and make up Bluemner's first complete painting diary held by Archives of American Art. Written in English and German, the diary includes details of his experiences with creating works of art from a technical level. The diary also contains lists of materials, works completed including watercolors, and pricing inventories. Within the diary entries, Bluemner made sketches ? often explaining the use of lines or relationships between parts of the painting. Within the intact diary, 13 black and white sketches were attached along with six colored sketches ? of countryside and landscape scenes.
Transcribe this diary to help others learn more about Oscar Bluemner, the American Modernist movement, and other related works at the Archives of American Art ? and visit his piece Imagination at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
