Donald Roy Purdy American (1924-2016) woman in garden landscape Oil on Masonite Biography from the Archives of askART: The following, submitted October 2004, is from Jackie Wolf. My father owned three of Mr. Purdy's works which he acquired from the Little Terrace Gallery in New Hope, PA. Included in his papers was a bio done by the Gallery and dates to 1967. The major points of interest include the following: Self-taught, Mr. Purdy seldom used models, but works largely from remembrance, that is, from impressions certain subjects have made upon his mind... He only occasionally paints on canvas as he considers masonite to be a stronger and longer-lasting material. Preparation of the surface, although he admits to using gesso, is his own secret. Mr. Purdy's paintings are included in the permanent collects of the Cincinnati, Columbus and Bridgeport Museums, the Butler Institute and the Walter P. Chrysler Museum. Two Purdy paintings were included in the US State Department's "Art in America" show which recently toured Europe. Several "First Awards" have been given to Mr. Purdy in competition with maor artists. Two of the awards, including the Gold Metal of Honor" were from the National Academy in New York City. The noted Van Diemen-Lilienfeld Gallery shows his work along with canvases of Vlaminch, Derain, Pissaro, Monet, Chagall and Picasso. His one-man shows have been seen in New York at the Ruth Butler Galleries, and in Massachusetts and Connecticut. He also showed in Paris at the Bernheim-Jeune Gallery. Biography from the Archives of askART Photo of Donald Purdy A still life, figure, landscape and marine painter in Impressionist/Barbizon style, Donald Purdy earned at B.A. Degree at the University of Connecticut and an M.A. degree from Boston University. Memberships include the American Federation of Arts and the Silvermine Guild of Artists, and exhibition venues are the Audubon Artists, Allied Artists of America and Hudson Valley Exhibitions. Sources: Peter Falk, Editor, Who Was Who in American Art Who's Who in American Art, 2003-2004 Biography from Taylor | Graham Photo of Donald Purdy Throughout the many years that Donald Purdy has painted, his subject matter and style have been very rich and diverse. His career as an artist began in abstract painting and later moved into combining the abstract mode with representational subject matter. Purdy continuously experimented with many means of expression. In the 1970's and early 1980's his palette was influenced by the Barbizon painters, but his technique combined the abstract with the tight Realist approach. What did remain constant throughout Purdy's career and still today is his tendency to work in series. In the 1980s, Purdy's work evolved into an Impressionist style. He felt he found a technique and a way of painting that was unrestrained and very successful pictorially. His best known work is of beach scenes using a combination of people against solid blocks of sky, sand and water. Impressionism allows him to paint free and abstractly with the end result pleasing to the eye. Usually there is a sense of reflection and solitude and a certain peacefulness to be found in his paintings. His work reflects his desire to portray what he would want life to provide. His Impressionistic works are in many corporate, museum, and private collections. Exhibitions: New Britain Museum, CT Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Butler Institute of Art .Youngstown. OH Allied Artists of America, NY Silvermine Guild of Artists, CT Hammer Galleries, NY Ridgewood Art Association, NJ Trisdonn Contemporary Gallery, Nyack, NY Hudson Valley Art Association, NY Collections: New Britain Museum, CT Butler Institute of Art, Youngstown, OH Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA Colby College Museum, Maine Kansas University, Arkansas Chase Manhattan Bank, NY 24" x 30", 31" x 36" (frame)