John Butler (artist)
Encyclopedia
John Davidson Butler was an American
artist from Seattle, Washington. He worked primarily as a painter, but later also as a printmaker and ceramicist.
Butler was one of three Seattle artists who worked together under the name "The Triad". The others were etcher Roi Partridge and miniaturist Clare Shepard Shisler. Also in their circle were photographer Imogen Cunningham
(who used Butler and the others extensively as models, and later married Partridge), and painters Mabel Lisle Ducasse and Yasushi Tanaka
.
As a youth, Butler studied in Seattle under Carlotta Blaurock, who had been, in turn, a student of James McNeill Whistler
. He also studied with Ella Shepard Bush (founder in 1894 of the Seattle Art School) and other local artists. Some of his early work was exhibited at Seattle's 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
. In 1910, he followed Partridge to New York, where two of Butler's watercolors were shown at the American Watercolor Society
exhibition at the National Academy of Design
. The two traveled on to Europe where Butler studied at the Colorossi Academy in Paris and also studied in Germany.
Returning to America, he continued his studies under William Merritt Chase
, at a summer 1914 class in Carmel, California. There, he shared a first prize from Chase with a fellow Seattle artist, Louise Crow. Upon returning home, he had a successful solo exhibition at the Seattle Fine Arts Society, which was a predecessor to the Seattle Art Museum
. He offered private classes, and also became the first teacher of painting at the Cornish School, later Cornish College of the Arts
. His students included Kenneth Callahan
and Thomas Handforth
.
He served in the military in World War I
; after the war, he remained primarily in Europe until 1932, periodically sending works for exhibition in Seattle. While in Europe he began making woodcuts and blockprints, which were exhibited at the Northwest Printmakers Society in Seattle, among other venues. Returning the U.S., he taught at a variety of institutions in Seattle, Minneapolis, Virginia
, and Pennsylvania
. He received a Bronze Medal in a national figure composition competition at Washington, D.C.
's Corcoran Gallery in 1938. In the early 1940s, he began working in ceramics.
Butler produced numerous murals in Seattle and elsewhere and illustrations for local Seattle publications. He also wrote articles and worked with arts organizations to promote art in Seattle.
Butler rarely signed his works, so it is not always readily apparent what works are his. Some of the early works when he was associated with "The Triad" bear a triangular cipher. He sometimes signed his work with his initials, "J.B."
The Seattle Art Museum's collection includes a painting by Butler, depicting a couple resting on the banks of Lake Washington on a Summer Day.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist from Seattle, Washington. He worked primarily as a painter, but later also as a printmaker and ceramicist.
Butler was one of three Seattle artists who worked together under the name "The Triad". The others were etcher Roi Partridge and miniaturist Clare Shepard Shisler. Also in their circle were photographer Imogen Cunningham
Imogen Cunningham
Imogen Cunningham was an American photographer known for her photography of botanicals, nudes and industry.-Life and career:...
(who used Butler and the others extensively as models, and later married Partridge), and painters Mabel Lisle Ducasse and Yasushi Tanaka
Yasushi Tanaka
was a Japanese artist and art teacher.-Life:Tanaka immigrated to Seattle in 1904 and later graduated from Broadway High School. He first exhibited at the Washington Museum in 1912.He also presented works at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition....
.
As a youth, Butler studied in Seattle under Carlotta Blaurock, who had been, in turn, a student of James McNeill Whistler
James McNeill Whistler
James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American-born, British-based artist. Averse to sentimentality and moral allusion in painting, he was a leading proponent of the credo "art for art's sake". His famous signature for his paintings was in the shape of a stylized butterfly possessing a long stinger...
. He also studied with Ella Shepard Bush (founder in 1894 of the Seattle Art School) and other local artists. Some of his early work was exhibited at Seattle's 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
The Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition was a world's fair held in Seattle in 1909, publicizing the development of the Pacific Northwest.It was originally planned for 1907, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush, but the organizers found out about the Jamestown Exposition being held...
. In 1910, he followed Partridge to New York, where two of Butler's watercolors were shown at the American Watercolor Society
American Watercolor Society
The American Watercolor Society is a nonprofit membership organization devoted to the advancement of watercolor painting in the United States. It was founded in 1866 by eleven painters and, originally, was known as the American Society of Painters in Water Colors...
exhibition at the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
. The two traveled on to Europe where Butler studied at the Colorossi Academy in Paris and also studied in Germany.
Returning to America, he continued his studies under William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase was an American painter known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons The New School for Design.- Early life and training :He was born in Williamsburg , Indiana, to the family...
, at a summer 1914 class in Carmel, California. There, he shared a first prize from Chase with a fellow Seattle artist, Louise Crow. Upon returning home, he had a successful solo exhibition at the Seattle Fine Arts Society, which was a predecessor to the Seattle Art Museum
Seattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum is an art museum located in Seattle, Washington, USA. It maintains three major facilities: its main museum in downtown Seattle; the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, and the Olympic Sculpture Park on the central Seattle waterfront, which opened on...
. He offered private classes, and also became the first teacher of painting at the Cornish School, later Cornish College of the Arts
Cornish College of the Arts
-Library:The library at Cornish College specializes in art, dance, design, music, performance production, and theatre. As of 2011 it holds 4700 CDs, 40,000 books, has 2,200 videos, and subscribes to 154 periodicals...
. His students included Kenneth Callahan
Kenneth Callahan
Kenneth Callahan was a noted 20th century Abstract Expressionism painter, art critic curator, and a founder of the Northwest School....
and Thomas Handforth
Thomas Handforth
Thomas Scofield Handforth was an American artist and etcher. He wrote and illustrated the book Mei Li about his personal experiences in China and won the 1939 Caldecott Medal. Born in Tacoma, Washington, he studied at the University of Washington.Today, Mei Li is a reissue of a book originally...
.
He served in the military in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
; after the war, he remained primarily in Europe until 1932, periodically sending works for exhibition in Seattle. While in Europe he began making woodcuts and blockprints, which were exhibited at the Northwest Printmakers Society in Seattle, among other venues. Returning the U.S., he taught at a variety of institutions in Seattle, Minneapolis, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He received a Bronze Medal in a national figure composition competition at Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
's Corcoran Gallery in 1938. In the early 1940s, he began working in ceramics.
Butler produced numerous murals in Seattle and elsewhere and illustrations for local Seattle publications. He also wrote articles and worked with arts organizations to promote art in Seattle.
Butler rarely signed his works, so it is not always readily apparent what works are his. Some of the early works when he was associated with "The Triad" bear a triangular cipher. He sometimes signed his work with his initials, "J.B."
The Seattle Art Museum's collection includes a painting by Butler, depicting a couple resting on the banks of Lake Washington on a Summer Day.