West Fraser Explained
West Fraser |
Birth Name: | James West Fraser |
Birth Date: | 3 February 1955 |
Birth Place: | Savannah, Georgia, US |
Alma Mater: | University of Georgia |
Notable Works: | Before the World Was Made 126 Oak Street, McClellanville Bluffton Oyster Factory Shuckers |
Style: | plein air |
Children: | 3 |
Father: | Joseph Bacon Fraser Jr. |
Relatives: | Joseph B Fraser Sr. (grandfather) Charles E. Fraser (uncle) |
Awards: | John Young Hunter Award (1994) Mystic International Award of Excellence Mary S. Litt Award Hubbard Museum of Art - Pursuit of Excellence/American Master Edgar Payne Gold Medal Award |
Website: | https://westfraserstudio.com/ |
James West Fraser (born February 3, 1955) is an American artist. One of the leading artists in the representational/En Plein Air tradition, Fraser has built his career on richly painted, atmospheric vistas of cities, coasts, and landscapes.
Biography
Early life
West Fraser was born in Savannah, Georgia. Born to Joseph Bacon Fraser, Jr and Carolyn Bexley. Fraser attended the Savannah Country Day School, and was raised in nearby Hinesville until 1964, when his family moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1979. The following year in Savannah, he worked independently as an illustrator and began his first serious painting in watercolors. 1980–1984, he lived in Buck's County, Pennsylvania, and began traveling up and down the New England coast to paint maritime subjects and harbor scenes. In 1984, he settled in Charleston, South Carolina and continued his work in watercolor through the late 1980s. The realistic, detailed marine compositions from this period resulted in early critical recognition, with a 1984 two-man show at the Grand Central Art Galleries in New York City, and his first one-man exhibition at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston in 1986 through early 1987.
Career
By 1986, Fraser had already evolved into a looser, more lyrical watercolor style, and by 1989, he had started producing his first oil paintings, En Plein Air—a style based on an impressionistic rendering of light, color, and atmosphere in the forms of landscapes, city scenes, and marine views. Since then, he has explored his vision in this vein, constantly developing his formal and expressive skills in portraying subjects ranging from panoramic urban rooftop views to intimate streetscapes to remote island marshlands. Working this way liberated Fraser from his studio, placing him into the rich fabric of urban life, or by contrast, into unspoiled natural environments, where he has recreated the light and colors of seasons, times of day, and varied atmospheric effects on landscapes and city scenes.
In 1990, he shifted to representational/plain air painting in oil. Since then, he has primarily specialized in coastal landscapes, streetscapes and travel paintings. Through his many accolades and awards, he has achieved a national and international reputation as a master of creating a natural light in his luminist paintings. Fraser has had 8 solo museum exhibitions in the Midwest, the Southeast, and California. Fraser has been published extensively, including features in Art & Antiques, Plain Air Magazine, The Robb Report, Southern Accents, American Artist, Nautical Quarterly, Southwest Art and Hemispheres, to name a few. In 2000, he represented South Carolina in the bicentennial celebration calendar published by the White House Historical Association. In 2001, the University of South Carolina Press published the monograph Charleston in My Time: The Paintings of West Fraser, which was accompanied by a traveling exhibition to Southeastern museums. In 2006, Fraser painted the official portrait of SC Governor Mark Sanford.
Honors and awards
Fraser was a Commissioner[1] of the South Carolina Art's Commission from 2003 to 2012, he is an elected member of the Salmagundi Club,[2] an elected Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists, a Signature member of Plein Air Painters of America (PAPA), and a member of the California Art Club.
He garnered his first award in 1984, The John Young Hunter Award from Allied Artists of America. Since then he has been honored with the Award of Excellence from Mystic International, The Mary S. Litt Award from the American Watercolor Society, the Pursuit of Excellence/American Master award from the Hubbard Museum of Art, and the Edgar Payne Gold Medal Award for Best Landscape from the California Art Club's 100th Juries Gold Medal Exhibition,[3] among many others.
Fraser hangs in permanent collections in 9 museums across the United States and Bermuda, and at the White House Historical Association.[4] His audiences include museums, art associations, resorts, the Heritage annual PGA Tour winner, yacht clubs, historical societies, health institutions, corporate and private collections, and educational institutions.
Permanent museum collections
Publications
- Book: A Native Son, Paintings by West Fraser . West . Fraser . West Fraser . Telfair Museum . Exhibition catalog . 9780933075184 . 2012 . Courtney . McNeil . 47 . Savannah, Georgia.
- Book: June 2006. The Boathouse: Tales and Recipes from a Southern Kitchen. Richard S. W. (introduction). Stoney. Douglas W.. Bostick. Jason R.. Davidson. Stewart (photographs). Young. West (featured paintings). Fraser. 9780975349892. Joggling Board Press.
- Book: Sokolitz, Roberta (introductory essay). 2002. Charleston In My Time: the Paintings of West Fraser. exhibition catalog. 222479255. Charleston Renaissance Gallery.
- Book: 2002. Where is Palmetto Bluff?. Mark (photography). Permar. Jim (photography). Erikson. West (paintings). Fraser. Eric (photography). Horan. 244206269.
- January–February 2002. South Carolina Wildlife. Daws Island: Rich in History, Rich in Art. Emily. Clements. West (paintings). Fraser.
- Book: Fraser. West. West Fraser. Phillips. Ted (introductory essay). Charleston In My Time: the Paintings of West Fraser. 2001. University of South Carolina Press. Columbia, SC. 1-57003-392-7. Mack. Angela D. (introductory essay).
- Book: Fraser, West. 1995. The Color of Light: Paintings by West Fraser, 1983 through 1995. Springfield Museum of Art Museum. exhibition catalog. 34153235. West Fraser.
- Book: Montvidas-Kutkus, Kristina. 1994. exhibition catalog. Lure of the Lowcountry. Gibbes Museum of Art. In the Dinghy. 84526134.
- Book: 1991. The Second Annual Hubbard Art Award for Excellence. exhibition catalog. The Hubbard Museum. 24867776.
- Spring 1985. Islands. Fine and Fragile Islands–Hilton Head, Daufuskie, Kiawah. James S.. Wamsley. West (paintings). Fraser.
Personal life
Daniel West Fraser Scholarship Fund
Fraser, with his family and friends, established the Daniel West Fraser Scholarship Fund through the Gibbes Museum of Art to honor the memory of his eldest son Daniel. The fund serves to fulfill the Gibbes’ commitment to provide scholarship funding for art camps and classes to deserving, talented students from area schools who are recommended by their teachers.[7]
The Joseph Bacon and Carolyn Bexley Fraser Sustainable Seafood Harvest Fund
West Fraser partnered with the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry to established a fund for conservation, research, and to support sustainable seafood harvests around Beaufort County into the future. The mission of The Joseph Bacon and Carolyn Bexley Fraser Sustainable Seafood Harvest Fund, established in the name of Fraser's mother and father, is to provide support for conservation programs and efforts which are focused on maintaining the Port Royal Basin, the Calibogue Sound Basin, and the surrounding areas, as a healthy ecosystems and viable estuaries for a sustainable seafood harvest today and into the future.[8] “ Proceeds from prints of Bluffton Oyster Factory Shuckers go towards the fund.
Further reading
- Book: March 2011. California Light: A Century of Landscapes. Jean. Stern. Molly. Siple. 9780847836253. Skira Rizzoli.
- Mussari . Mark . Portraits of Places: West Fraser paints the scenery that he has always loved . Southwest Art Magazine . 16 December 2010 . 20 June 2021.
- July 2009. American Society of Marine Artists. Notes from Brush Hill Studios, Artist Profile/West Fraser. Charles Raskob. Robinson.
- Spring–Summer 2008. Gibbes Museum of Art. Collector's Publication Signatures, Artist Profile/West Fraser. Pam. Wall.
- Spring 2008. Legends Magazine. Kiawah Island. Island Muse, Artists draw from Kiawah's mystique. Stephanie. Hunt.
- March 2008. American Art Collector. Coastal Carolina.
- Summer 2007. Edible Lowcountry. Food As Art. Lyn. Mettler.
- Book: Smith, Joan Irvine. 2007. The Irvine Museum. Saving California's Vanishing Treasures.
- March 27, 2007. Bluffton Today. Capturing The Elusive Lowcountry, Artist West Fraser documents our changing landscape. Ruth. Ragland.
- March 15, 2007. The Island Packet. Landscape Painter returns to Bluffton to judge SOBA art show. Jenny. Lim.
- January 15, 2007. The Island Packet. Woman Travels to Capital to Capture Inaugural Day Moments. David. Lauderdale.
- January 2007. Charleston Magazine. Homecoming: A Multigenerational, historic Mount Pleasant home gets a loving update. Emily Perlman. Abedon. Paula (photographs). Illingworth.
- Web site: Ottawa 2005 . Art in Embassies . U.S. Department of State . 20 June 2021 . 2005.
- May 2006. The Robb Report. Charleston, SC. Anne T.. Pope.
- May 2006. Charleston Magazine. The Art of Living: To One Downtown Family, Fine Furnishings and Collected Art is Just the Stuff of Everyday Life. Elle. Mcgee. Larry (photography). Monteith.
- October 2005. Charleston Magazine. Stroke of Brilliance. Stephanie. Hunt. Rick (photography). McKee.
- August 2005. Plein Air Magazine. A Dance of Light- West Fraser. Beatrice. Aaronson.
- May 2005. Art & Antiques. West Fraser tells scenic stories en plein air. Susan. Sully. Paula (portrait). Illington.
- January 2005. Hilton Head Monthly. Intriguing people of the Lowcountry: West Fraser, Lowcountry landscapes. Allison. Laurie.
- January 2004. Sandlapper, the Magazine of South Carolina. West Fraser's Southern Art. Rosie. O'Rear.
- Book: Jinishian, J. Russell. October 2003. Bound for Blue Water: Contemporary American Marine Art. Greenwich Workshop Press. 0-86713-088-1.
- Book: October 2003. Enchanted Isle: a History of plein air painting in Santa Catalina Island. The Society for the Advancement of Plein Air Painting. 0-9728364-0-3. Jean. Stern. Roy C. Rose. Molly. Siple. Barbara. Doutt. Jean. Patterson.
- January–February 2003. Southern Accent Magazine. Plein Air Passion, South Carolina artist West Fraser explores settings near and far in his lush landscapes.
- News: April 28, 2002. Greenville News. Charleston: In Plein View. Ann. Hicks.
- February 2002. Port Charleston Magazine. Guest Artist of the Month Column.
- Book: 2000. Art From the Parks. North Light Books. Rachel Rubin. Wolf.
- News: July 20, 1999. Los Angeles Times. There Was Something in the Plein-Air. Ann. Conway.
- News: March 14, 1999. The Post and Courier. Fraser's works honest, forthright. Frank. Martin.
- News: March 7, 1999. Beaufort Gazette. Fraser in love with Low country – Artist's says light right in Charleston.
- October 1998. Hemispheres. Cover Artist Profile. Margaret. Moore.
- News: September 24, 1998. The Post and Courier. Charleston painter has brush with bureaucracy. Steve. Piacente.
- News: June 28, 1998. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. An Artist's Retreat. Lyn. Riddle.
- News: June 28, 1998. The Post and Courier. West Fraser's artwork is on display at Tradd Street Press. Dottie. Ashley.
- Spring 1998. California Homes: The Magazine of Architecture, the Arts & Distinctive Design. San Juan Capistrano: The Jewel of the Missions. Michael. McFadden.
- News: March 12, 1996. The Item. Sumter, SC. Powerful in the Abstract.
- June 1994. Carolina Style Magazine. West Fraser: The Evolution of a Charleston Artist. Ashby. Ravenel.
- News: December 2, 1993. Upwith Herald. Charleston, SC. Interview: West Fraser. Chris. Kincade.
- Spring 1993. Watercolor 93 – an American Artist Publication. West Fraser.
- News: September 26, 1992. The Post and Courier. West Fraser: Artist paints the beauty of nature. Dottie. Ashley.
- Summer 1992. Island Scene Magazine. Hilton Head Island, SC. West Fraser: Artist in the scene. Living The Dream. Nikki. Hardin.
- Spring–Summer 1990. Kiawah Island. Legends Magazine. 1. 1. Beaux Arts. Dick. Reed.
- Spring 1985. Nautical Quarterly. West Fraser's Watercolors: Recording the Coast. Rebecca. Smith.
Notes and References
- Web site: About West Fraser . 2024-04-07 . en-US.
- Web site: About West Fraser . 2024-04-07 . en-US.
- Web site: 100th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition . California Art Club . 20 June 2021.
- News: Ashley . Dottie . Fraser's work to be part of White House calendar . The Post and Courier . 8 August 1999.
- Web site: 126 Oak Street, McClellanville, South Carolina . The Gibbes Museum of Art . 20 June 2021.
- Web site: A NATIVE SON: PAINTINGS BY WEST FRASER . Telfair Academy . 20 June 2021 . Savannah . 24 February 2012.
- Web site: Hiester . Becca . A Note of Thanks: Camp Funded by the Daniel West Fraser Scholarship Fund . The Gibbes Museum of Art . 20 June 2021 . 10 August 2018.
- Web site: The Joseph Bacon and Carolyn Bexley Fraser Sustainable Seafood Harvest Fund . West Fraser Studios . West Fraser . 20 June 2021 . 2018.