Mabel May Woodward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mabel May Woodward
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| Born | September 28, 1877 |
| Died | August 14, 1945 (aged 67) |
| Resting place | Swan Point Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Art Students League of New York, Ogunquit Art Colony |
| Alma mater | Rhode Island School of Design |
| Years active | 1896–1943 |
| Known for | Landscape and portrait painting |
| Style | American Impressionism |
| Movement | Ashcan School |
Mabel May Woodward (born September 28, 1877 – died August 14, 1945) was a very important American painter. She was known for her beautiful Impressionist paintings. Mabel Woodward was active as an artist from 1896 until 1943. She mainly worked in Rhode Island and Maine.
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Becoming an Artist: Early Life and Education
Mabel May Woodward was born on September 28, 1877. Her family lived in Providence, Rhode Island. She grew up in a comfortable home and received a great art education. She spent most of her life in Providence. She also spent many summers in Ogunquit, Maine.
Where Did Mabel Woodward Study Art?
In 1896, Mabel Woodward began studying at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She was a very talented student and graduated with top honors. Later, in 1898, she went to the Art Students League of New York. There, she learned from famous artists like William Merritt Chase and Frank Duveneck. She also studied at the Ogunquit Art Colony in Maine. She learned from artists like Arthur Wesley Dow and Charles Woodbury there.
Mabel Woodward's Career as a Teacher and Artist
Mabel Woodward taught at the Rhode Island School of Design for over twenty years. She created a special class called the "action class." In this class, students learned to draw the human body in motion. They studied how the body moved, almost like a machine. She used her summer breaks to focus on her own painting.
What Was the Providence Art Club?
Mabel Woodward was also a long-time member of the Providence Art Club. This was a special group for artists. She was the first woman to become president of the club. This was a big achievement for her.
Mabel Woodward's Artistic Style and Famous Paintings
Mabel Woodward was greatly inspired by the Impressionist art style. She especially admired artists like William Merritt Chase. She loved to use bright colors in her paintings. She also used bold, thick brushstrokes, which is called impasto. This made her paintings look very lively.
What Were Her Early Paintings Like?
Her first famous paintings showed "old-fashioned girls in gardens." These were pictures of women and girls in outdoor garden settings. Mabel Woodward focused on how light and color looked in the scene. She was less interested in the feelings of the people she painted.
What Are Her Famous Beach Scenes?
Later, Mabel Woodward became very well-known for her summer beach scenes. She painted many pictures of the New England shore. These paintings often showed families and children having fun at the beach. She loved to capture the way light and shadows played on the sand and water.
Gallery
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A young girl with a fish bowl
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People bathing at Ogunquit beach
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A summer scene in New England
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A calm river on a cloudy day
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A peaceful afternoon break
Mabel Woodward's Legacy and Rediscovery
Mabel Woodward was one of Rhode Island's most famous artists in the 1920s and 1930s. However, after she passed away in 1945, her work became less known. At that time, people were more interested in French Impressionist art than American Impressionist art. By the early 1950s, her family sometimes even gave her paintings away.
Why Was Her Work Rediscovered?
Later in the 20th century, people started to become interested in American Impressionist artists again. Mabel Woodward's paintings began to be rediscovered. Some of her larger portraits and beach scenes have sold for a lot of money. Her work was shown in an exhibition in Boston in 1972. This show featured "neglected American impressionists." There was also a small exhibition of her work at the Providence Art Club in 1992.
