William Cumming (artist)
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Cumming (born 1917, Kalispell, Montana
- Died November 22, 2010) is a noted 20th century artist and a founder of the Northwest School
.
Largely self-taught, Cumming is considered the youngest of the Northwest School
which included Guy Anderson
, Morris Graves
, Mark Tobey
, and Kenneth Callahan
. Although a contemporary of the Northwest School, whose work echoed the muted and diffuse images of the moist, gray northwest landscape, Cummings developed a distinctive style.
Cumming began painting with the WPA Federal Art Project
in Seattle from 1938 to 1940. His career was interrupted on occasion by both his political leanings, and by bouts with tuberculosis
. His work captures moments of daily life using light and shadow to create form in broad strokes; and utilizes contrasting, vibrant colors to move the viewer through the painting and accentuate the main elements. His scenes usually include the common man or animals, either in motion or in slice-of-life portrayals. Facial details are minimal. As a life drawing instructor, Cumming would note that you could recognize a friend down the road just by their gait and posture, without ever seeing their face. Body language is a key element in his work.
He taught painting for many years, most notably at The Burnley School of Professional Art, The Cornish School of Allied Arts, and The Art Institute of Seattle
.
Cumming authored Sketchbook, A Memoir of the 30's & the Northwest School, which is in print. Another publication, William Cumming: The Image of Consequence, was published in conjunction with an exhibition of Cumming's work at the Frye Art Museum
.
Cumming died of congestive heart failure on November 22, 2010 at age 93 in Seattle, Washington
.
Kalispell, Montana
Kalispell is a city in and the county seat of Flathead County, Montana, United States. The 2010 census put Kalispell's population at 19,927 up 5,704 over 2000. At 40.1% this is the largest percentage of growth of any incorporated city in Montana. Kalispell is the largest city and commercial center...
- Died November 22, 2010) is a noted 20th century artist and a founder of the Northwest School
Northwest School (art)
The Northwest School was an art movement based in small-town Skagit County, Washington, and was at its peak in the 1930s and 1940s.-The big four:...
.
Largely self-taught, Cumming is considered the youngest of the Northwest School
Northwest School (art)
The Northwest School was an art movement based in small-town Skagit County, Washington, and was at its peak in the 1930s and 1940s.-The big four:...
which included Guy Anderson
Guy Anderson
Guy Anderson , born in Edmonds, Washington, was an American Abstract Expressionism painter. Along with Kenneth Callahan, Morris Graves, William Cumming, and Mark Tobey, Anderson was identified in a Life Magazine article as one of the "northwest mystics," also known as the Northwest School.-Early...
, Morris Graves
Morris Graves
Morris Cole Graves was an American expressionist painter. Along with Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan, William Cumming, and Mark Tobey, he founded the Northwest School. Graves was also a mystic.-Early years:...
, Mark Tobey
Mark Tobey
Mark George Tobey was an American abstract expressionist painter, born in Centerville, Wisconsin. Widely recognized throughout the United States and Europe, Tobey is the most noted among the "mystical painters of the Northwest." Senior in age and experience, Tobey had a strong influence on the...
, and Kenneth Callahan
Kenneth Callahan
Kenneth Callahan was a noted 20th century Abstract Expressionism painter, art critic curator, and a founder of the Northwest School....
. Although a contemporary of the Northwest School, whose work echoed the muted and diffuse images of the moist, gray northwest landscape, Cummings developed a distinctive style.
Cumming began painting with the WPA Federal Art Project
Federal Art Project
The Federal Art Project was the visual arts arm of the Great Depression-era New Deal Works Progress Administration Federal One program in the United States. It operated from August 29, 1935, until June 30, 1943. Reputed to have created more than 200,000 separate works, FAP artists created...
in Seattle from 1938 to 1940. His career was interrupted on occasion by both his political leanings, and by bouts with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. His work captures moments of daily life using light and shadow to create form in broad strokes; and utilizes contrasting, vibrant colors to move the viewer through the painting and accentuate the main elements. His scenes usually include the common man or animals, either in motion or in slice-of-life portrayals. Facial details are minimal. As a life drawing instructor, Cumming would note that you could recognize a friend down the road just by their gait and posture, without ever seeing their face. Body language is a key element in his work.
He taught painting for many years, most notably at The Burnley School of Professional Art, The Cornish School of Allied Arts, and The Art Institute of Seattle
The Art Institute of Seattle
The Art Institute of Seattle in Seattle, Washington is one of The Art Institutes, a system of more than 40 educational institutions located throughout North America, providing education in design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts...
.
Cumming authored Sketchbook, A Memoir of the 30's & the Northwest School, which is in print. Another publication, William Cumming: The Image of Consequence, was published in conjunction with an exhibition of Cumming's work at the Frye Art Museum
Frye Art Museum
The Frye Art Museum is an art museum located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA . The museum emphasizes painting and sculpture from the nineteenth century to the present. Its holdings originate in the private collection of Charles and Emma Frye...
.
Cumming died of congestive heart failure on November 22, 2010 at age 93 in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
.
Partial works
- Cumming, W. (1961). William Cumming. Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum. OCLC 78655618
- Cumming, W. (1984). Sketchbook: a memoir of the 1930s and the Northwest School. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 0295961562
- Kangas, M., & Cumming, W. (2005). William Cumming: the image of consequence. Seattle: Charles and Emma Frye Art Museum, in association with University of Washington Press, Seattle. ISBN 0295985542