Item
# FA-073
Joseph William Dawley (American 1936 - 2008). Oil
on board portrait of an old man, signed LR "Dawley", size 9" x 11" +
giltwood frame.
This
biography from the Archives of AskART:
“A
graduate of Southern Methodist University in
Dallas, Texas, Joseph Dawley became well-known in the 1960s and 70s for
his realistic character studies and landscapes. In 1975, he was
diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and his style became much looser,
more colorful, and impressionistic.
The
following, submitted March 2005 from the daughter of the artist:
Although raised and educated in Texas,
Joe Dawley moved to
New Jersey in the early 1960's where he remained. He painted in the
traditional Old Masters style until 1982, when the symptoms of
Parkinson's - diagnosed in 1975 - necessitated brain surgery. One of
his accolades during that period was being commissioned to paint the
official portrait of Mother Seton for the canonization in 1976.
After the surgery and much recovery
time, he found he had
lost his fine motor skills needed to paint realism as he had. He taught
himself impressionism and was very successful at it. He has appeared on
all three major networks - ABC, NBC, and CBS - and was featured in
"Life" magazine in June 1993. Today, after about 30 years of
deterioration from the Parkinson's, Joe Dawley continues to paint in
yet another style, much more abstract and definitely from the heart. He
may not always be able to speak, remember names, or even walk, but he
seems to always be able to
paint.
Dawley was
invited by the White House to paint a
painting for use as the official 1994 Christmas Card. Two paintings
were created for this purpose and are both currently in the White
House. Also in Washington, D.C., Joe's painting "Snowfall in the Park"
is the 1995 Christmas Card for Very Special Arts, which is an
international educational affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for
the Performing Arts."