Park, David
(b. 1911
d. 1960)
Sketchbook, ca. 1960
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.
[Sketchbook], ca. 1960 / David Park, artist. 1 v. : various media ; 30 x 23 cm. David Park papers, 1917-1973. Archives of American Art.
27 p. Spiral-bound. Ink wash and graphite were used to create images. Brushstrokes are thick, bold, and expressionistic. The entire sketchbook consists of figure studies, most of which are full-length. Images include: twelve standing figures, five reclining figures, two bust studies, one crouching figure, and one study of a face. There are six entirely blank pages and only two pages with images on both the front and verso. One of the blank pages consists of the inscription (handwritten in blue pen): “Sketch pad of my late husband David Park, Lydia Park Moore 8-29-66.”
Condition: both front and back covers are gone. Pages are in good condition with no tears, but are heavily stained with liquid (coffee?) and various media and materials, mostly drippings of paint. Smudged fingerprints cover many of the pages.
[Sketchbook], ca. 1960 / David Park, artist. 1 v. : various media ; 30 x 23 cm. David Park papers, 1917-1973. Archives of American Art.
27 p. Spiral-bound. Ink wash and graphite were used to create images. Brushstrokes are thick, bold, and expressionistic. The entire sketchbook consists of figure studies, most of which are full-length. Images include: twelve standing figures, five reclining figures, two bust studies, one crouching figure, and one study of a face. There are six entirely blank pages and only two pages with images on both the front and verso. One of the blank pages consists of the inscription (handwritten in blue pen): “Sketch pad of my late husband David Park, Lydia Park Moore 8-29-66.”
Condition: both front and back covers are gone. Pages are in good condition with no tears, but are heavily stained with liquid (coffee?) and various media and materials, mostly drippings of paint. Smudged fingerprints cover many of the pages.
Forms Part of: David Park papers