The sketchbooks of DAVID PARK (1911-1960) show the liberating influence of Abstract Expressionism on figurative painting. Park's bold, fluid brush strokes block out shapes in bright light and deep shadow. Park taught life drawing classes at the California School of Fine Arts and later at the University of California at Berkeley. He also organized life drawing sessions in the 1950s with Elmer Bischoff, William Brown, Paul Wonner, Richard Diebenkorn, and other Bay Area artists.* Park's sketchbooks are possibly a record of these group sessions and his personal explorations toward a new figurative style.
* Paul Mills, "David Park and the New Figurative Painting" (Masters Thesis, University of California at Berkeley, June 1962 version, pp. 76-77). David Park Papers, Archives of American Art, microfilm roll 849, frames 838-839.
David Park Sketchbook, ca. 1955, 8 3/4: x 12 in. Figure study in ink wash on paper. David Park Papers, Archives of American Art.
Description of David Park's Papers |
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| CREATOR: | Park, David, 1911-1960. |
| TITLE: | David Park papers, 1917-1973. |
| PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: | 0.4 linear ft. (microfilmed on 3 reels) reels 849 & 3001-3002 |
| BIO/HISTORICAL NOTE: | Painter, teacher; California. Park taught at the California School of Fine Arts from 1943-1952. Worked in Bay Area figurative painting style. |
| SUMMARY: | Correspondence; artworks; sketchbooks; photographs and slides; list of works and receipts; a master's thesis; and a calendar. |
| REEL 849: | Lists of works and receipts; master's thesis by Paul Mills, "David Park and the New Figurative Painting," 1962; drawings and sketches; photographs of Park's works. |
| REELS 3001-3002: | Correspondence of David and Lydia Park, 1959-1966, with George W. Staempfli and Phillip A. Bruno of Staempfli Gallery, and with the Park's attorney concerning the estate; 55 original works, in oil, pastel, ink, pencil and watercolor; 3 undated sketchbooks of figure and landscape studies; 51 photographs and slides of paintings by Park; a November 1971 calendar from Santa Barbara Museum of Art announcing the acquisition of Park's THREE NUDES; and miscellany. |
| RESTRICTIONS: | Patrons must use microfilm copy. |
| PROVENANCE: | Material on reel 849 lent for microfilming 1974 and material on reels 3001-3002 donated 1974 by Lydia Park Moore, widow of Park. |
| ADDITIONAL FORMS: | 35mm microfilm reels 849 & 3001-3002 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. |
| LOCATION OF ORIGINALS: | Reel 849: Originals returned to Lydia Park Moore after microfilming. |
