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Early American Art Reborn
Rufus Porter style mural installed

"When I look at the mural I feel like I am back in New England. Thank you so much, it is the best birthday gift ever!"
 -- Debbie Gillis

New England scenery instead of elaborate classical or European landscapes. For that reason he is credited as the first American Scene painter. Unfortunately, most of his wall murals have not survived.
Happily, Debbie contacted me after seeing the January 9th, 2005, Seattle Times article featuring some of my own art work. We discussed the project and she explained that she was attracted to the innocence and simplicity of Porter's work. Like Debbie, I also
Sketches for Rufus Porter Wall Mural
Rufus Porter style tree closeup
photo of Rufus Porter frame being constructed in shop

Above: Like the painting, constructing the frame was a real pleasure. I handcrafted the custom frame using a sturdy hardwood Cherry, which I selected and milled in my shop

 

 

 

 

Left and below: Details of mural. This photo was taken just before the mural shipped from the studio.

Rufus Porter style ships
When John Gillis asked his wife Debbie what she would like most for her birthday, she said she really wished for an early American folk art mural. She especially liked the work of the itinerant artist Rufus Porter (1792-1884). Porter is thought to have painted over 150 murals and is known for local views of

really admire early American folk art and in particular its wonderful imaginative freedom. Porter's work conveys this well with its stylized trees and interesting compositions.
Debbie explained that her favorite home had been a beautiful Colonial period house in New England that she and John had lovingly renovated. To help personalize the mural and make it more meaningful I suggested that their Colonial home and some other places of personal significance be included in the mural.
Undertaking this project allowed me the opportunity to explore more closely the appealing qualities of early American art. Before I began the sketches, I immersed myself in examples of marine and landscape scenes from New England. I produced rough sketches of the composition, the main points of interest rendered at actual size, and a final watercolor to give an idea of the shading. I also created several designs for a frame.
Using a photo of the dining room the mural sketch was digitally placed in position to give an idea of how it would look completed. As the project progressed I emailed images to the Gillis' and they came by the studio to see it in person. A few minor changes were requested and implemented before and during the actual painting.
The final mural composition consist of houses on a island with a lighthouse, a tall ship and small boats, all positioned between highly stylized trees that evoke an idyllic paradise. Flags stream off from the boats in the afternoon breeze, Cormorants fly above, livestock grazes near an orchard, people enjoy a day out on small sailboats and at the center of it all stands the Gillis' former Colonial home.

Two of the original sketches drawn in preparation for the mural.
wall before installation of Rufus Porter Wall Mural
The space before installation. Originally, this scene was to be painted directly on the dining room wall, but the more we discussed the project the more the patron wanted to keep the mural if they moved, so it was agreed that it should be painted on a removable surface.
The practice of painting murals on canvas or wood paneling has existed for centuries. Often, the finished mural is surrounded by molding. For this project, I used an imported Okueme hardwood panel. Then I designed and created a custom frame to go with the mural (below).