Awareness Post: Timothy David Mayhew

Website: https://www.timothydavidmayhew.com/index.html

Drawing examples; https://harvardartmuseums.org/collections/person/21586

Timothy David Mayhew attended the University of Michigan and he received a doctorate from Wayne State University in 1978. Mayhews work focuses primarily on nature, and he is admant that spending more time in nature will internalize what you see and allow for better art. He draws inspiration from classical Roman culture, quoting Cicero -"Art is born of the observation and investigation of nature.” Thus, Mayhew spends a great deal of time in nature, even being know spend days outside tracking certain animals. His main medium is oil paints, however he finds quick sketches are often better when observing nature. Aside from creating art Mayhew studies the traditional materials and techniques used by 14th to 17th century European old master artists and has published his research. He often incorporates these techniques in his work, such as with his use of red chalk, natural black chalk, natural white chalk and metalpoint. His oil and paintings and drawings have been featured in / aquired by institutions such as National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, and the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.

What first drew me to Mayhew was his use of birds and color scheme. As I am looking to contiue with the motif of birds in my work, and incorporate them into oil paintings his work seemed perfect. I think that continuing to analyze his works and his composition / use of multiple birds in peices would aid me going forward. I also appreciated his method of drawing / sketching his peices before he paints them, and I think that this may be a prudent strategy for me in the future. I also really love the soft color schemes Mayhew uses in alot of his works.

I was also suprised to find that I was very interested in Mayhew's research into the methods used by old Master artists. This has always been something Ive been interested in, but not something I have really looked into until now. I found the intersection between science, art, and history really interesting, and look forward to reading more about his research.

Publication Examples:

• Traditional European drawing materials from the 11th to the 19th century. Harvard University. Virtual presentation and demonstration. February 19, 2021.

• The evolution of traditional metalpoint grounds in old master drawings from the 11th to the 17th centuries.Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. October 26, 2018.

• Drawing in Silver and Gold: Leonardo to Jasper Johns. Sell, S. and H. Chapman. 2015. Washington: National Gallery of Art.

NOTABLE MUSEUM AND PUBLIC ACQUISITIONS

• Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

• The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio.

• The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California.

• The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

• National Gallery of Art. Washington, D.C.

• Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

• Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, Massachusetts.

• Fogg Art Museum. Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

• National Museum of Wildlife Art. Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

• Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Wausau, Wisconsin.

• State of New Mexico’s Capital Art Collection. Santa Fe, New Mexico.

• University of New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts. Albuquerque, New Mexico.

• Arthur M. Sackler Museum. Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

• Tamarind Institute. Albuquerque, New Mexico.

• Straus Center for Conservation, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

• Busch-Reisinger Museum. Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

• President and Fellows of Harvard College. Cambridge, Massachusetts.

• San Juan College, Farmington, New Mexico.

SELECTED AWARDS AND HONORS

• Master Artist, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, September 2020.

· The Rungius Medals. Awarded the four bronze Rungius Medals from the National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. September 16, 2016.

• Artist in Residence, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Wausau, Wisconsin. October 2016.

· Collection Artist of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Awarded by Timothy Rub, Director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Awarded to living artists with artwork in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and includes a lifetime membership. May 11, 2016.

• The Red Smith Award for Best of Show, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Western Visions exhibition. Jackson Hole, Wyoming. September 2015.

• Trustees' Purchase Award. National Museum of Wildlife Art, Western Visions exhibition, September 2014.

• Artistic Excellence Award. Southwest Art magazine. December 2011.

• Certificate of Recognition. A resolution of the Legislative Council of the State of New Mexico in recognition of artistic contributions honoring the State of New Mexico. Awarded by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ben Lujan and Senate President Pro Tempore, Timothy Z. Jennings. July 2011.

• Robert Kuhn Award. Western Visions exhibition, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 2010.

• Lanford Monroe Memorial Artist-in-Residence. National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. July 6-31, 2010.

• Listed in Who’s Who in American Art. December 2007 to present.

• Inducted as a signature member, National Academy of Professional Plein Air Painters [NAPPAP]. 2007.

• Best of Show, Western Spirit Art Show and Sale. Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. Cheyenne, Wyoming. February 22, 1997.

• Best Oil, Western Spirit Art Show and Sale. Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. Cheyenne, Wyoming. February 22, 1997.

• Gallery Award, Western Spirit Art Show and Sale. Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. Cheyenne, Wyoming. February 22, 1997.

• Second Place, Drawing. The Best and Brightest. Scottsdale, Arizona. February 6, 1997.

• Best of Show. St. Jude's Fine Arts Exhibition. Farmington, New Mexico. November 22, 1996.

• First Place, Drawing. St. Jude's Fine Arts Exhibition. Farmington, New Mexico. November 22, 1996.

• Honorable Mention in Oil Painting, Western Spirit Art Show & Sale. Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. Cheyenne, Wyoming. February 28, 1996.

• Best Drawing/Pastel, Western Regional Art Show and Sale, Thirteenth Annual. Frontier Days Old West Museum, Cheyenne, Wyoming. February 1994. Juried by Fritz White, CAA.

• Third Place, Artists Alpine Holiday, Thirty-third Annual. Ouray, Colorado. August 1993. Judged and Juried by Philip Pearlstein.

• Second Place, 'ATSA/League of Southwest Artists Exhibition, Farmington Museum. Farmington, New Mexico. June 1993.

• Third Place, Strokes of Genius Juried Fine Art Show, Seventh Annual. Scottsdale, Arizona. March 1993.

• Best of Show, Northwest New Mexico Arts Council Juried Art Show. December 1992.

• Best of Show, Museum Director's Choice, Contemporary Sculpture, Farmington Museum. Farmington, New Mexico. November 1991.

• Third Place, Gathering of the Arts. July 1990.

• Best of Show, Northern Navajo Fair. Shiprock, New Mexico, October 1988.