Alson Skinner Clark

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My great uncle, Alson Skinner Clark, was born in 1876, and he arrived with the first wave of Clarks in 1883. He entered the “professional” art market by the age of nine. He had an uncommon ability to produce drawings for the freehand art class, and his fellow students who were in need of his services were willing to meet his price of fifty cents per drawing. This is a vote for those who believe that some gifted individuals are destined to follow a path for which they have a flare and talent.
Most of his paintings are either oil on canvas or oil on board. He traveled and painted extensively in Europe and also did a series of paintings documenting the building of the Panama Canal. In some cases he took his easel and paints right into the canal excavation sites to capture the subject he had in mind. His later works included scenes from Mexico and California where he was a noted member of the plein air movement.
I have favored Impressionist painting for as long as I can remember, and I consider it no coincidence that I grew up surrounded by artwork expertly produced by a family member in this style. I like the fact that it is not an exact representation of the subject, but rather an interpretation of the subject by the artist. I find that I gain my greatest appreciation of such a work when I back up a few steps.
He was responsible for all of the murals and most of the artwork found throughout the house. Murals over the downstairs fireplace and in the dining room added to the sense I had on my first visit of walking into a museum. The Oriental theme became popular with many artists following Commodore Matthew Perry’s visit to Japan in 1853-1854. Comfort Island was strongly influenced by this theme including grass matting that can st...

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...o about their daily business. A banner at the top of the mural encapsulates the title of “Alt Nemoberg.” This mural is like others that have begun to flake a little more with each passing decade. We have done some research about ways to preserve this artwork, but the methods are quite expensive. It’s hard for me to guess if the artwork or even the house will survive for future generations to enjoy.
I noticed on my way back to the stairway that one of his Japanese murals in the hallway was dated “Oct 25 ‘08.” After staying that late in the fall myself a few times, I chuckle knowing that the weather can be very forbidding anytime after Labor Day. I have imagined Alson and perhaps some painter friends getting cabin fever and taking to painting following several days of cold, rain and the north wind that frequently takes direct aim at the front porch that time of year.

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