Payne wrote his book at the latter part of his life and gives us a wonderful insight in his thought process and painting language. Here is a nice retrospective video on Edgar Payne The printing is top notch, but I have to admit seeing the originals are simply sublime. The link above is a retrospective book of his work and was printed to coincide with the show. I was lucky to see a traveling show of a large body of his work: Edgar Payne: The Scenic Journey in Pasadena several years ago. He was one of the first artists to illuminate the Sierras and the Southwest. His bold use of color and rugged landscapes captivated audiences. The book was first printed in 1941 (now in it’s 7th printing).Įdgar Payne (1883-1947) was a gifted plein-air painter whose powerful work and impressionistic style inspired many an artist. It still is one of my go to books of choice. I was introduced to “ Composition of Outdoor Painting” almost two decades ago. Some books just rise above the others, some seemingly choose you, and some just keep coming back to you through all your years.
