Early day for me as I have yet to go to bed. I am saving myself just a little time in the next few hours. Here are my thoughts:
Edgar Alwin Payne (1882-1947)
Payne was born in Washburn, Missouri, near Cassville in Barry County – this is near the Arkansas border. He had early ambitions of becoming an artist and would eventually become one of California’s leading landscape painters.
In 1900, he still resided with his parents, two sisters, and five brothers. During this time he began a career as a house painter, sign painter, and muralist. Payne studied briefly at the Art Institute in Chicago (lasting only two weeks), and continued to remain primarily self-taught for the remainder of his career.
Fortunately, he became part of Chicago’s Palette and Chisel Club where Thomas Moses was an active member! Whether this was before or after working in the theatre is unknown. However, Payne sought employment as a scenic artist! While in Chicago, Payne continued to both paint for the theatre and create murals for in provide and public buildings. By 1909 he ventured to California for the first time, painting in Laguna Beach and in San Francisco.
By 1912, he married a commercial artist, Elsie Palmer (1884-1971). He had initially met Elsie in San Francisco during 1910. However, she had taken a job in Chicago by 1911 and he followed her there. SWEET MAN! They were both drawn to Europe, and he travelled to paint Alpine scenes, colorful ships, and the seascapes of France and Italy.
By 1914, Payne saw the arrival of their first and only daughter, Evelyn. It changed their lives forever! During this same year, Payne also journeyed to the Sierra Nevada Mountains for the first time. It became his destiny. By 1917, Payne earned his first major commission with the rail road. It brought him to the unique landscape of the southwest – where he would capture Navajo Indians, arid canyons, and colorful landscapes with a paint brush.
The Santa Fe Railroad (brain child of William A. Simpson) was responsible for Payne’s stay in this region and ultimately offered a variety of opportunities for other inspirational artworks. Eventually, Payne returned to Chicago to create a murals for the Congress Hotel, covering several floors and hallways of the hotel with his artwork (11,000 square feet!).
The following year in 1918, Payne and Elsie made their “permanent” home in Laguna Beach, also organizing an art association where Payne became the first president. In California, Payne captured coastal landscapes and windblown trees near Laguna Beach or Monterey, venturing out to nearby areas to constantly sketch and continue artistic endeavors. By 1922, the trio (Payne, Elsie and Evelyn) took a “painting tour of Europe” trip that lasted until 1924!
They returned, first staying in Chicago, then Laguna Beach, and finally in New York City by 1926. The family was always on the go! Traveling across the country and all over to Europe, they enjoyed the harbors of Brittany, France, and Chioggia, Italy. Finally they headed home in 1928, by way of Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada.
After the financial collapse in 1929 and the subsequent depression, the Payne family returned to Southern California. While Moses and Payne were both living in California during 1931, they still interacted and enjoyed dinner – although Moses longed to join the fine art world of Payne and many of his past assistants.
By 1932 Payne and Elsie purchased a studio home in LA. It was during this time that their daughter, Evelyn, would marry. Unfortunately, Elsie and Edgar would also separate the same year. Edgar moved to Hollywood, and there he would continue to paint his favorite subject alone – the Sierra Mountains.
His obsession would lead him to produce a documentary film, “Sierra Journey.” His impressionistic landscape scenes were mostly painted in the plein-air style, often taking packhorses with supplies into the mountains to sketch, paint, study, and learn. In this favorite realm, he painted lofty peaks and pristine lakes for generations to enjoy. Payne Lake was even named in his memory.
Finally, in 1941, Payne wrote “The Composition of Outdoor Painting,” a comprehensive book on composition and composition forms, explaining landscape painting techniques, color, repetition, rhythm, and value. One of his famous passages from this publication is, “A painter needs to study, meditate and experiment and practice interminably in order to produce a painting that would have nobility in its concept, variety, rhythm, repetition, unity, balance and harmony in its composition.”
After a 14-year separation, Elsie returned to Edgar in 1946, learning that he had cancer and stayed with him until his passing in Hollywood, California, on April 8, 1947. There is a bronze relief sculpture of Edgar at the Laguna Beach Art Museum, done by Elsie in 1952. She championed his work until her own health drastically deteriorated by 1959. Elsie eventually moved in with her daughter Evelyn in Minneapolis during the spring of 1969. Elsie passed away on June 17, 1971.
Throughout his life Payne received numerous awards and exhibited across the country. His works can be found in numerous private collections and museums, including, but not limited to, the Laguna Art Museum (Laguna Beach, California), the Chicago Art Museum, the Southwest Museum of Los Angeles, and the National Academy of Design Collection.
But most of all, yes…he was a scenic artist too! I am glad that I chose to learn more about him today!
