John William Vawter from Greenfield, Indiana

Greenfield, Indiana

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,600 people, 5,917 households, and 4,017 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,818.0 people per square mile . There were 6,449 housing units at an average density of 803.0 per square mile...

, was an American

Americana

Americana refers to artifacts, or a collection of artifacts, related to the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States. Many kinds of material fall within the definition of Americana: paintings, prints and drawings; license plates or entire vehicles, household objects,...

 landscape artist and illustrator

Illustrator

An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...

 known for his loose Impressionist style.

Early life and education

Named John William Vawter at birth, Vawter was known as Will Vawter both personally and professionally. Vawter moved with his family to Greenfield, Indiana from West Virginia

West Virginia

West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...

 at age six. While living in Greenfield, Vawter developed a close working relationship with a poet

Poet

A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...

 James Whitcomb Riley

James Whitcomb Riley

James Whitcomb Riley was an American writer, poet, and best selling author. During his lifetime he was known as the Hoosier Poet and Children's Poet for his dialect works and his children's poetry respectively...

, another resident of Greenfield. Vawter illustrated eleven volumes of Riley poems often using local residents as models.

Later life and artistic career

Vawter was married to Mary Vawter, an accomplished poet and landscape artist. The couple divorced in 1923. Vawter moved to Nashville, Indiana

Nashville, Indiana

Nashville is a town in Washington Township, Brown County, Indiana, United States. The population was 803 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Brown County and is the county's only incorporated town...

 to join the Brown County Art Colony

Brown County Art Colony

The Brown County Art Colony is an artist colony formed in Nashville and Brown County, Indiana.Adolph Shulz is considered to be the founder of the colony, encouraging many Indiana and regional artists to come to Brown County to paint...

permanently in 1908. He had two residences in the area, one a studio in town, the other a 57 acres (230,671 m²) estate about a half mile outside of Nashville.

Vawter died in Nashville, Indiana in 1941.

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