Penney, James
(b. 1910
d. 1982)
Sketchbook, 1932
James Penney (1910-1982), a longtime teacher of painting at Hamilton College, gave the Archives an extensive series of sketchbooks that chronicle his career from his student days at the University of Kansas, from 1925 to 1929, through some twenty years as a painter in New York. Penney sketched incessantly, on subways, at construction sites, and at political rallies. In the 1930s, he worked on WPA murals under Moses Soyer's direction.
[Sketchbook], 1932 / James Penney, artist. 1 v. : watercolor ; 26 x 20 cm. James Penney papers. Archives of American Art.
The 90 page sketchbook includes detailed depictions of New York City in 1932. The images, done in pencil, charcoal and watercolor, exhibit Penney's fascination with everyday life in the busy metropolis. Included are sketches of people on the subway, skyscrapers, the boardwalk and street scenes with cars and signs. Full size sketches of trees and landscape are interspersed throughout the notebook.
[Sketchbook], 1932 / James Penney, artist. 1 v. : watercolor ; 26 x 20 cm. James Penney papers. Archives of American Art.
The 90 page sketchbook includes detailed depictions of New York City in 1932. The images, done in pencil, charcoal and watercolor, exhibit Penney's fascination with everyday life in the busy metropolis. Included are sketches of people on the subway, skyscrapers, the boardwalk and street scenes with cars and signs. Full size sketches of trees and landscape are interspersed throughout the notebook.
Forms Part of: James Penney papers