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One of Peale's most famous paintings was meant to fool the eye. It represents two of his sons, Raphaelle and Titian. It looked so real it fooled Geo. Washington. The illusion was made more real by hanging the picture just above a false step that was built at the bottom of the frame and that stuck out into the room.

Painter

Teacher note: A number of students contributed to these pages on Colonial times. Each contributed diffferent information or a different perspective. You may find that each article adds to your understanding and research base. 

Article # 1 An American Artist
By: Jamal L.
Hi, my name is Jamal L. and I am here to introduce you to painting and a painter. Painting was introduced to the world many, many years ago. Many people around the world paint different things and also about different things. Some people around the world use paint to write poems; some use it to describe their feelings. Others have different reasons. In painting, you use different materials, materials like paint, paint brushes, paint stands, an easel, the things they are painting. That is all you need, as far as I know.

Back in 1741, in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, a guy was born named Charles Wilson Peale. Charles was trained as a saddler and became a painter in 1760. So that means he was 19 when he became a painter. He studied the work of John Hesselius and Copley to improve his skills in painting. He met the two of them in 1765 in Boston. Charles Wilson Peale got an arrangement with a judge and business friends to raise his fund and send him to London. In London, he met a guy named Benjamin West. Benjamin West trained him for two years to get better at painting. Bohn Beal Bordley also helped Charles Wilson Peale to retain his first major commission to the American life size portraits. A few years went by. Charles Wilson Peale became a major figure in both art and science during the American Revolution and Federal periods. In 1786, Charles Wilson Peal converted the painting gallery and attached to his home tin Philadelphia, into the Natural Curiosities. After a while, Peale had seventeen children. He named them all after artists and scientists and some of them became famous artists, too. That is the life of Charles Wilson Peale. And that is what I know about his painting. Thank you for reading my project about painting and the life of a great and famous artist. Bye!

Article # 2Folk Painter

By Keith T. and Tiffany H.

Being a folk painter was a fun job to have even if you didn't get paid. Many people enjoyed painting because it was a calm way to express feelings. A folk painter had many different jobs and opportunities. They painted portraits of people, decorated everyday items and signs, drew pictures of landscapes, landmarks, homes, and even ships. A folk painter wasn't a skillful artist but instead was an ordinary person like us painting at their best ability. People still bought their work to decorate their homes and to get portraits done for their front entrance. Portraits were one of the folk painters most popular jobs.

 

In order to do a portrait, many things had to be thought about. First the painter had to find a nice working area in which the customer was also comfortable. Preferably, the artist would work at the client's house and part of their pay was a room and food. The painter had to have his own tools set up on a flat surface that was easy to reach. They put on an apron and set up their easel. A popular painting surface was canvas in which it was stretched fittingly over a wooden frame making the painting smoother. After making sure all of their tools were ready to go, the canvas painting area was covered with a primer which protects the stretched linen cloth. Now the artist is ready for their client to choose a comfortable pose suited for painting.

 

Before painting, the folk artist drew perspective lines, then sketched in light pencil the portrait of the person and their features. Next, the painter must take a close look at the colors involved and mixes them, setting the mood. Once they are satisfied color wise and proportionally, they start to paint lightly and the best way they can, to make the portrait realistic and with detailed features. The painter and poser will take small breaks and eventually rest for the rest of the day. The painter makes sure to clean his work area and take care of his tools before going to bed. They also cover the portrait protecting it from harm and letting it dry, since portraits take a while.

 

Since folk artists didn't involve much skill, there was little that was needed to learn. Basically, as an apprentice, you had to learn the basic use and care of an artist's tools, and the brushing techniques required for decorative and picture painting. The basics of painting are the use of the color wheel, many types of paints (but usually oil paint) and brushes, and more. There were also some skills that couldn't be learned by others but instead with your mind. Some of these were such things as patience, imagination, creativity, and calmness. These topics couldn't be taught, but had to be found within yourself. However, artists at that time usually used things from nature like flowers and fruit to decorate things around the home.

 

The craft of painting wasn't really needed as much as it was wanted. It was needed especially in one way and that was the decoration of signs. Many settlers couldn't read until about 1870. This caused painters to have to make bright colored pictures showing advertisements for stores so people recognized them. Many people wanted decorated items such as pots and other everyday items, pictures of landscapes, and portraits to decorated their homes. It wasn't so much that they had to have these items, but they wanted them from painters to show off. Painting was not one of those jobs you didn't enjoy. It was like being paid for having fun. Painting was very relaxing and was a great hobby. It was a way to explore new views at things, and show feelings toward them. It also made you proud knowing people liked your thoughts. Folk painting is free and you paint what you want to your best ability. I would love that kind of job!

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This site is created and maintained by Holly Geddes.
Last updated on March 13, 2003