More Than a Likeness: The Enduring Art of Mary Whyte

More Than a Likeness: The Enduring Art of Mary Whyte by Whyte, Mary. Hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781611172768.

An intimate look into the life and inspiring work of a renowned watercolorist More Than a Likeness: The Enduring Art of Mary Whyte is the first comprehensive book on the life and work of one of todays most renowned watercolorists. From Whytes earliest paintings in rural Ohio and Pennsylvania, to the riveting portraits of her southern neighbors, historian Martha R. Severens provides us with an intimate look into the artists private world. With more than two hundred full-color images of Whytes paintings and sketches, as well as comparison works by masters such as Winslow Homer, Andrew Wyeth, and John Singer Sargent, Severens clearly illustrates how Whytes art has been shaped and how the artist forged her own place in the world today. Though Whytes academic training in Philadelphia was in oil painting, she learned the art of watercolor on her own―by studying masterworks in museums. Today Whytes style of watercolor painting is a unique blend of classical realism and contemporary vision, as seen in her intimate portraits of Southern blue-collar workers and elderly African American women in the South Carolina lowcountry. "For me ideas are more plentiful than the hours to paint them, and I worry that I cannot get to all of my thoughts before they are forgotten or are pushed aside by more pressing concerns," explains Whyte. "Some works take time to evolve. Like small seeds the paintings might not come to fruition until several years later, after there has been ample time for germination." Using broad sweeping washes as well as miniscule brushstrokes, Whyte directs the viewers attention to the areas in her paintings she deems most important. Murky passages of neutral colors often give way to areas of intense detail and color, giving the works a variety of edges and poetic focus. Several paintings included in the book are accompanied by enlarged areas of detail, showcasing Whytes technical mastery. More Than a Likeness is replete with engaging artwork and inspiring text that mark the mid-point in Whytes artistry. Of what she will paint in the future, the artist says, "I have always believed that as artists we dont choose our vocation, style, or subject matter. Art chooses us."