American Society of Railway Artists First Annual Exhibition September 19 through October 12, 2014

Saddle-tank Switch Engine, 14 x 10 inch watercolor by George C. Clark    AVAILABLE

My watercolor painting Saddle-tank Switch Engine will be one of 26 artworks featured in the first annual national exhibition by members of the American Society of Railway Artists, held at The Station Art Gallery, 11 English Street in Westfield, New York near the shore of Lake Erie in the Chautauqua wine-growing region.  Everyone is invited to the opening reception on Friday, September 19 from 6 to 9pm.  After the opening, regular gallery hours will be 2 to 5pm on Fridays, 11am to 4pm on Saturdays, and 1 to 4pm on Sundays through October 12, 2014.  I and a number of other exhibiting artists will be attending the opening reception.

Artist Drives Diesel Locomotive at Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

Diesel Switch Engine No. 11

George C. Clark at the Throttle   (photo by Patricia Clark)

Normally I only post my railroad paintings and drawings on this blog, but today I'm going to break that pattern to post a couple of photos of a fun railroading experience I enjoyed recently. For my birthday my wife Pat got me an opportunity to take part in the Guest Engineer program at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Indiana, located about 85 miles southeast of Chicago.  On August 10 we drove out there and I had a lesson in how to operate No. 11, a diesel switch engine that formerly shunted freight cars at a steel mill.  My instructor was John, a fully qualified engineer seen in the yellow shirt in the photo.  Another museum volunteer acted as conductor, grade-level crossing guard, and switchman, throwing the manual switches as needed.

I got to drive No. 11 for half an hour up and down the museum's own right-of-way.   It was a lot of fun for a person who has been a rail fan all his life and is now a founding member of the American Society of Railroad Artists.  Thank you, Pat!

Rust Gicleé Print Available at Longbranch Gallery in Mineral Point, Wisconsin

My archival limited edition print Rust described in the previous post can now be purchased at the Longbranch Gallery, 203 Commerce Street in historic Mineral Point, Wisconsin.   The 12 x 16 inch print is priced at $120 framed or $75 unframed.  The original oil painting on which the print was based was painted on-site at the Illinois Railway Museum and is now in the permanent collection of the Illinois State Museums.

Rust Gicleé Shown at Palette & Chisel Art Sale Saturday April 26

Rust, signed and numbered giclee print by George C. Clark from an original painting that is now in the permanent collection of the Illinois State Museums.    AVAILABLE

This new archival print will be shown at a one-day sale at the  PALETTE AND CHISEL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS at 1012 N. Dearborn Street in Chicago on Saturday, April 26, from 11am to 4pm.  

The image is centered on a 12 x 16 inch sheet of 100% rag Hahnemühle paper with about an inch of white margin all around.  Each print from this edition of 30 is signed and numbered by the artist in pencil on the light green area at the bottom of the image so it can be displayed as is in a 12 x 16 inch frame or matted for display in a larger frame without covering the signature and edition number.  This 12 x 16 inch framed print is priced at $120.  Rust was painted on-site at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois. 

Other works by Clark in this sale include a small Key West landscape and four paintings of female nudes.

Santa Fe Sign atop the Railway Exchange Building, Chicago

Santa Fe Sign atop the Railway Exchange Building, Chicago,  7 x 9 inch ink, watercolor and colored pencil
by George C. Clark   AVAILABLE

For many years this electric Santa Fe Railroad logo sign appeared atop the historic Railway Exchange Building on Chicago's Michigan Avenue overlooking Grant Park.  It has been replaced now by another corporate logo sign, but the Santa Fe sign has been acquired by the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois, where it is being restored for display there.  This is how it used to look against the night sky.

Engine Shed

Engine Shed,  8 x 11 inch ink and watercolor by George C. Clark   AVAILABLE

At the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois, they keep engines and rolling stock that have been restored or are candidates for restoration in very large metal sheds to protect them from the weather.  Visitors can see them from walkways between the rails.  The sheds are lit by skylights and electric lights, but they are still pretty dark.  As a railfan I enjoy seeing these indoor collections and am glad they are being preserved, but as an artist I usually find the indoor displays a little too dark and claustrophobic to paint.  However, one day I found this Tuskegee Railroad locomotive silhouetted against the open shed doors because the locomotive normally parked behind it was out giving rides.  I made an ink drawing in my sketchbook and took some photos too.  Later I printed the drawing on archival watercolor paper and added the color.    

The Old Sand Tower at the Illinois Railway Museum

Old Sand Tower at the Illinois Railway Museum, 8 x 18 inch ink and watercolor painting by George C. Clark   AVAILABLE

I went out to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union the last day of the season it was open this year and inked this painting on site.  I added the color later at home referring to my on-site photos.  I had brought a skinny piece of watercolor board thinking it would be perfect for a long horizontal subject like a train, but when I saw the old rusting sand tower silhouetted against the bright fall sky I decided to go vertical instead.