Wayman Elbridge Adams
Encyclopedia
Wayman Elbridge Adams was an American
Painter
who was born in Muncie, Indiana
, that demonstrated a keen interest in drawing and painting throughout his early years. Adams later received formal instruction in the arts at the Herron School of Art
of Indianapolis
. Thereafter, he continued his studies under the guidance of master painter William Merritt Chase
in Florence
. Adams continued to thrive as an artist, later continuing his travels while advancing his skills as an oil painter focusing on figures, genre
, murals and portrait
s.
During his career, Adams lived and worked in New York
, as well as in California
, becoming well known throughout artistic circles across the United States for his rapid approach to painting stylized portraits of very prominent persons, including authors, painters and political leaders. Adams approach to portraiture earned him a nickname of "lightning" among artists and educators, as his portraits were often completed in one sitting.
Adams career flourished, especially after completing the portrait of Booth Tarkington
. This study brought Adams national recognition as a gifted professional portraiture artist. Notwithstanding the attention to portraits of important figures from all walks of life, Adams lesser known studies revolving around ethnicity constituted one of the most intriguing aspects of his work.
Also noteworthy, Adams maintained a friendly relationship with famous American Impressionist painter
, Francis Focer Brown
, who also studied at the Herron School of Art
. Adams later completed a colorful portrait of Francis Brown that ultimately became very well known among educational circles.
In 1959, Wayman Elbridge Adams died in the city of Austin, Texas
at 72 years of age.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
who was born in Muncie, Indiana
Muncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
, that demonstrated a keen interest in drawing and painting throughout his early years. Adams later received formal instruction in the arts at the Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art and Design, a school of Indiana University, was ranked 45th overall by U.S. News and World Report among graduate schools of fine arts in 2008....
of Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. Thereafter, he continued his studies under the guidance of master painter William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase was an American painter known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons The New School for Design.- Early life and training :He was born in Williamsburg , Indiana, to the family...
in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
. Adams continued to thrive as an artist, later continuing his travels while advancing his skills as an oil painter focusing on figures, genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
, murals and portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
s.
During his career, Adams lived and worked in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, as well as in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, becoming well known throughout artistic circles across the United States for his rapid approach to painting stylized portraits of very prominent persons, including authors, painters and political leaders. Adams approach to portraiture earned him a nickname of "lightning" among artists and educators, as his portraits were often completed in one sitting.
Adams career flourished, especially after completing the portrait of Booth Tarkington
Booth Tarkington
Booth Tarkington was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novels The Magnificent Ambersons and Alice Adams...
. This study brought Adams national recognition as a gifted professional portraiture artist. Notwithstanding the attention to portraits of important figures from all walks of life, Adams lesser known studies revolving around ethnicity constituted one of the most intriguing aspects of his work.
Also noteworthy, Adams maintained a friendly relationship with famous American Impressionist painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, Francis Focer Brown
Francis Focer Brown
Francis Focer Brown was a well-known American Impressionist painter, as well as professor and head of the Fine Arts Department at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana from 1925-1957, and Director of the Muncie Art Museum...
, who also studied at the Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art and Design, a school of Indiana University, was ranked 45th overall by U.S. News and World Report among graduate schools of fine arts in 2008....
. Adams later completed a colorful portrait of Francis Brown that ultimately became very well known among educational circles.
In 1959, Wayman Elbridge Adams died in the city of Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
at 72 years of age.