Artists You Should Know: Edward Redfield

Mort Metersky, Ph.D., who is a docent at the James A. Michener Art Museum, wrote and enticed me to research the American Impressionist Edward Redfield. Dr. Metersky has earned my gratitude for several reasons (first and foremost being that he's provided such a great suggestion). Edward Redfield wasn't a name with which I was familiar, so his paintings came as a pleasant shock. I've seen reproductions of his landscapes my entire life (and will bet other readers have, too). Edward (he was "Reddy" to his friends) was just wonderful to get to know. He painted en plein aire (meaning: he went to the scene out-of-doors, strapped his canvas to a tree if it was windy that day and completed the painting in one fell swoop). He amassed an enormous body of work, painting well into old age. And, when age forced him to forgo his countryside hikes, he turned to rug making and carving. He was also a jack-of-all-trades, to the point of building his own house and being an excellent gardener.

As you may well imagine, his 96 years of life provided many interesting anecdotes. My personal favorite was learning that, as the proverbial starving artist (with a wife and six children to feed), Redfield painted a large target on a piece of board and erected it on the banks of the canal which ran along the edge of his farm. Why, you ask? Hands on the canal barges would attempt to hit the target with lumps of coal they were carrying. It didn't matter how well they scored, either - the whole point was, Redfield gathered up their attempts and kept the farmhouse toasty all winter. (I just love this guy!) Dr. Metersky, thank you so much for your suggestion. I hope many new Edward Redfield fans will look you up at the Michener Museum to see his works. You may count me among them, the very next time I find myself in Bucks County.