Look for milford zornes art at the hilbert museum of california art in orange california. His paintings hang in the white house, the metropolitan museum of art, the smithsonian and more. Zornes and his colleague and artist friend, bill anderson. Carmel, utah 84755 united states this fall i will be participating in the second invitational milford zornes watercolor paint out at mt. As he approached his senior years, zornes showed few signs of slowing down. In his later years, artist milford zornes was represented by bill andersons gallery in sunset beach, ca. All three volumes contain stories of milford zornes, a friend of many years. A longtime friend of edith hamlin, he purchased her summer home in 1963 as a base for workshops in utah.
He was always doing art somehow, somewhere, baker recalled. In 1942, while a teacher at the otis art institute, zornes directed the painting of a fresco at the ramona bowl amphitheater in hemet, california. His watercolor instructor was millard sheets, a gifted painter and teacher, who joined zornes as member of the california group. Milford zornes artist biography for milford zornes.
The following oral history transcript is the result of a taperecorded interview with milford zornes on july 18, 1999. James milford zornes january 25, 1908 february 24, 2008 was an american watercolor. Amazingly, he was doing a deomonstration on his 100th birthday. From an artists point of view, the word exploration encompasses a wide range of subject matter and the search to find a way to symbolize, organize and tell a coherent story about it with beauty, power, and meaning. One thing i always remember about my grandfather is that he knew the story behind every painting. Milford zornes artist keywords and quick facts milford. Carolyn wing greenlee talks about how milford zornes book of trees came about, and shows how its put together. Later he wrote two books about zornes, including milford zornes. Oct 30, 2014 zorns was a member of the national academy of design, american watercolor society, california water color society. Oral history interview with milford zornes, 1999 july 18. After spending a couple years hitchhiking across the usa he ended up studying art in 1927 at the otis art institute. The interview took place at his home in claremont, california, and was conducted by betty lochrie hoag for the archives of american art, smithsonian institution.
One cannot collect art in southern california without owning a milford zornes. He is seen here painting in an alta loma orange grove. During the great depression he and his colleagues began painting primarily. When we traveled together, id look at milford and he d be looking out the window through his binoculars and he d be drawing in a sketchbook, he said. California watercolors 1850 1970 american scene painting, california, 1930s and 1940s everyday life in california, regional watercolors, 19301960.
Milford zornes was born and raised in oklahoma and he finished high school in california. Each focuses on a less familiar aspect of his work, such as his fullsheet paintings with india ink. After three years of interviewing zornes, greenlee produced four books on his art. Milford zornes iconic california landscapes tell the. Boats at rest, 2001, art by milford zornes california. In addition to painting and teaching, milford zornes worked as a mural artist, authored a book about his art and travels in nicaragua, produced fine art prints. Mcclelland full color illustrated biography documenting zornes progress from the early 1930s to the present time, providing details of his life and travels and a chronological list of his exhibition records. Carolyn wing greenlee studied painting with milford zornes, and later taught art and creative writing in public and private schools using his approach to teaching. I was looking through the book that mike has of your work and i saw a painting. Milfords art portrayed the average americans life in the early 20th centuryfrom farmers to foundry workers to auto mechanics, says writer, art curator and artist gordon mcclelland, who became good friends with zornes when he interviewed the artist for his seminal book, the california style. His paintings hang in the white house, the metropolitan museum of art, the.
Zornes, following in his friends and colleagues footsteps, rose up in the scene fast. Based on nine decades of observation, drawing and painting, master teacher and artist milford zornes shares his. Milford zornes from private collections star print brokers. Bill anderson recollections of milford zornes youtube.
It was in 1994 that he first consulted the late watercolor master, zoltan szabo. In addition to painting and teaching, he has worked as a mural artist, authored a book about his art and travels in nicaragua, produced fine art prints, and was the subject of a book, which he coauthored, titled milford zornes published by hillcrest press, inc. The following oral history transcript is the result of a taperecorded interview with milford zornes on june 30, 1965. For many years, zornes taught watercolor painting workshops in china, alaska, mexico, ireland, italy, spain, hawaii and many other locations. One of his watercolors was selected by president and mrs.
Longtime claremont artist milford zornes is profiled by the hilbert museum this week. Milford zornes, oklahoma and california 1908 2008, the couple 2000, watercolor, 812. A wonderful female nude painted by milford zornes in watercolor and ink with additional sketches on the verso, all on a sheet from the artists address book, signed and dated by the artist in ink on the lower center. Bill is also a watercolor artist like milford as well as a. In 1933 he was given a oneman show at the corocan gallery of art in washington, d.
With the onset of the great depression, the zornes family moved to southern california, where milford would ultimately settle as an artist and teacher. Zornes became one of the finest watercolor instructors in america and has been to nearly every part of the world at one time or another. He was known to paint an entire painting in a few hours. Milford zornes by zornes abebooks shop for books, art. James milford zornes january 25, 1908 february 24, 2008 was an american watercolor artist and teacher known as part of the california scene painting movement. Friendships and inspiration is produced in conjunction with an exhibition at the ccaa museum of art in rancho cucamonga, california. Milford zornes paintings can be found in many collections and museums including the white house, the library of congress collection, and the metropolitan museum of art. This book and the traveling art exhibition it documents, focuses on the career of american artist milford zornes and provides select examples of the watercolor paintings he has produced. When carolyn lord and spike ress put their heads together, they came up with a grand idea to honor the late great watercolor artist and teacher milford zornes.
The paintings are all the work of milford zornes, a noted member of the. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. Milford zornes by zornes, milford,mcclelland, gordon t. Milford zornes was activelived in california, utah, oklahoma.
The interview was conducted at milford zornes home studio in claremont, ca by susan anderson for the archives of american art, smithsonian institution. The 30minute film will be shown throughout the day. Milford zornes, an art book about the artists work in private collections. The art of milford zornes from private collections. Hes married to maria zornes, the daughter of milford and pat zornes, and has been immersed in what we could call zornesiana for decades, with a houseful of paintings in sacramento. Its reassuring to hear the words of someone like watercolor artist milford zornes 19082008, in the interview he did with sylvia megerdichian and bill anderson for the artists magazine on the eve of his 100th birthday. Milford zornes chronology inland empire museum of art. Milford zornes paintings for sale milford zornes art. Feel free to stop by for a visit if you are in southern california. Milford zornes, a watercolorist who traveled the world for his art but is bestknown for the everyday scenes of southern california he painted starting in the 1930s, has died. He had many discussions with several old grumbacher color chemists and with the famous color maker, jacques blockx. He will be included in a book to be published next year outlining the life of milford zornes and the friends he painted with. In addition to painting and teaching, milford zornes has worked as a mural artist, authored a book about his art and travels in nicaragua, produced fine art prints, and has been the subject of several books including one which he coauthored, titled milford zornes published by hillcrest press, inc.
The iconic master of watercolor landscapes, milford zornes n. Art is the presentation of truth beyond fact and reason. Unfamiliar places, not painting, were milfords boyhood passion. From an early age he wanted to travel and his work is known around the world. James milford zornes 19082008 was born in camargo, oklahoma. The subject matter varies, but he has simplified and transformed it into his own. Oral history interview with milford zornes, 1965 june 30. Milford zornes, a watercolorist who traveled the world for his art but is best known for the everyday scenes of southern california he painted starting in the 1930s, died sunday at his home in. In 1963, watercolorist milford zornes bought maynard dixons summer home and studio in mt. Essentially, he and other members of the group were painting with watercolors in new and creative ways, as opposed to the traditional use of watercolors to add color. He did this most of his life, right up to the last day he was able to do anything at all. He consulted the ralph meyer book, the hilary page book and several books by michael wilcox. New biography offers portrait of painter milford zornes daily bulletin.
He helps us all see truths that are easy to overlook. This showing features 17 paintings by friends and affiliated artists, together with 46 paintings by milford zornes, select artwork from private collections, some of which have. Milford zornes main beach laguna beach california milford zornes, 19082008, main beach, laguna beach, california, c. Making new friends at milford zornes retreat roland lee. Sources include books, periodicals, auction records, family members, friends, and professional researchers. He wanted to be remembered as milford zornes, the painter, and he relentlessly traveled the world, filling his. The artistic innovations of milford zornes were key to the emergence of the california style watercolor movement, a new style of pleinair painting, which began in the 1920s and 1930s.
Many years ago, jack richeson made the decision to develop and manufacture a top line of watercolor. Zornes continued painting and giving watercolor workshops until his death at the age of 100. He took classes with sheets and quickly got to know him and the other group of emerging artists in the california scene painters group. This is a good overall book on milford zornes life and career. Zornes, following in his friends and colleagues footsteps, rose up in the. Complete guide to watercolor painting dover art instruction. The art of milford zornes friendships star print brokers. Milford zornes has established a national reputation as one of the west coasts preeminent watercolor artists and teachers. Milford zornes is known for watercolor landscape and marine painting. In addition to painting and teaching, milford has worked as a mural artist, authored a book about his art and travels in nicaragua, produced fine art prints, and was the subject of a book, which he coauthored, titled milford zornes published ny hillcrest press, inc. Milford zornes american, 19082008, watercolor and ink drawing entitled nature at the beach, 2002 ce. A new biography focuses on the life of watercolorist milford zornes, who died in 2008 at age 100. This is a soft cover book covering the art in private collections. New biography offers portrait of painter milford zornes.