ARTIST: Townsend Shotwell Howe (New Jersey, New Hampshire, 1928 - 2007)
TITLE: Portrait of Woman
MEDIUM: oil on board
CONDITION: Some small scratches/paint losses. No visible inpaint under UV light. Normal wear to frame.
ART SIZE: 30 x 24 inches / 76 x 60 cm
FRAME SIZE: 36 x 29 inches / 91 x 73 cm
SIGNATURE: on verso
ATTENTION: This lot is located at our Mamaroneck, NY office.
CATEGORY: old antique vintage painting for auction sale online
AD: ART WANTED: Consign, Trade In, Cash Offer
USEFUL INFO ABOUT ART IS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA:     
SKU#: 132339
US Shipping $120 + insurance.

BIOGRAPHY:
ownsend was born and raised in Rahway, New Jersey. He attended the Rahway school system from kindergarten through high school. His talent for art was first recognized by his eighth-grade art teacher. Then in high school, with the encouragement of his art teacher John Cooper, he entered his art work into competitions. This garnered him both state and national recognition. He took advantage of a scholarship awarded to him and studied at the Art Students League in New York City for two years after graduation.With dreams of seeing the world, Townsend enlisted in the Navy during the summer of 1948. He had signed up for three years, but because of the Korean War, his term was extended to four years. In that time he was able to visit Norway, England, France and Japan, as well as live off the coast of Korea for many months. During his years abroad, he always had his sketch book and paint box handy. As a result, there are many sketches and watercolors from his Navy years.Townsend was discharged in August, 1952. He tried for art jobs, but none were to be had with his minimal experience. He decided to take the Commercial Art Course at the Famous Artists School and support himself with various odd jobs. His last such job was cutting rugs for a large furniture store in Rahway.In August of 1953, Townsend married Margaret Talbot. Early in 1954, they decided it would make the most sense for Townsend to fast track the course and live off of Margaret's teaching salary. The risk paid off. Townsend progressed rapidly through the course, until the furniture store called offering him a job in the advertising department. He helped create full-page ads for the store for several years. In November of 1959, he took a job with the Famous Artists School in Westport, Connecticut as an instructor in the Fine Arts Course. He was able to show his own work in art galleries across Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey with a fair amount of success. But still, he was frustrated with the lack of time for his own art.In the summer of 1970, Townsend and Margaret made the decision to move with their three sons to New London, NH - a town just five miles from where they both went to camp in the 1940's. They quit their jobs with the dream of opening a frame shop and art gallery. At first the situation was good. Margaret went back to full time teaching, and Townsend found time to paint most days while also keeping up with the framing. But slowly the framing overtook the painting. In 1978 they decided to downsize. The house in New London was sold and they moved to Wilmot.Townsend enjoyed his freedom to paint full-time, but his inability to find an outlet for his paintings was difficult. But in the early 1980's, things began to change. People began to realize Townsend was still around, and most importantly, they began to purchase paintings. The Deming Gallery opened up in New London and was incredibly successful selling his work. The Kerygma Gallery in Ridgefield, NJ had one-man shows every other year, and they were very pleased with the results. The 1980's and '90's were Townsend Howe's highlight years.In the 2000's Townsend continued to paint, but his health slowed him down considerably. He died on August 18, 2007. Though Townsend may no longer be with us, his love for the Kearsargre and Lake Sunapee region lives on. Those who enjoy his work cannot walk past a painting without stopping to think, "I know that place. I must have been there before..." Townsend had a way of painting his home so that it felt like home for all of us. And with all his enduring brush strokes, he continues to welcome us there.