Masters Edward Paintings

Edgar Alwin Payne was an American Western landscape painter and muralist. Born on March 1, 1877, in Washburn, Missouri, Payne left home at the age of 14 and began a life of traveling in pursuit of becoming an artist. His early work experience included painting houses, signs, and wagons. By the early 1900s, Payne had moved to Chicago, where he found work as a scenic painter for the theater and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. Payne's love for the outdoors and his quest for inspiration led him to travel extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Canada.

Payne became known for his distinctive landscapes, often depicting the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Southwest, and particularly the California coast. His paintings were characterized by a dynamic composition, vibrant color palette, and a sense of grandiosity and drama. Payne's fascination with the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains culminated in his creation of the monumental painting 'Sierra Nevada', which earned him widespread acclaim.

Aside from landscapes, Payne also painted scenes of indigenous peoples and their environments, reflecting his travels through the New Mexico and Arizona territories, where he interacted with the Navajo and Hopi tribes. He was fascinated by their culture, which also became a subject of his work.

In 1922, Payne married fellow artist Elsie Palmer Payne, who was also a painter. Together, they traveled and painted, often working on similar subjects. Edgar Payne's work was extensively exhibited during his lifetime, and he became a member of various art clubs and organizations, including the Laguna Beach Art Association, which he helped to establish.

Payne was also an educator, authoring a book titled 'Composition of Outdoor Painting' (1941), which became a seminal guide for landscape painters. His influence on American landscape painting has been significant, with numerous artists studying his approach to composition and color.

Edgar Payne's paintings are now held in many important public and private collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago. His contribution to American art was considerable, and his paintings continue to be celebrated for their majestic portrayal of the natural world. Edgar Payne passed away on April 8, 1953, in Hollywood, California.