1950s California Desert Oil Painting by Raymond DuShane

Description

Artist: Raymond DuShane (1900-1974)
Medium: Oil on panel
Size: 24" x 30" (unframed)
Date: Signed and dated "Ray DuShane, '58" … more Artist: Raymond DuShane (1900-1974)
Medium: Oil on panel
Size: 24" x 30" (unframed)
Date: Signed and dated "Ray DuShane, '58"
Condition: Excellent

This vibrant oil painting by celebrated California landscape painter Raymond Newton DuShane offers a dynamic view of a desert landscape extending towards distant mountains. The late DuShane, a contemporary of the famous painters and sculptors Frederick Remington and Charles Russell. He was one of the first artists in the plein air movement in California during the first half of the 20th century.
The artwork captures the desert floor speckled with sagebrush, showcasing DuShane's emotive precision and adept handling of light and natural color. Painted on a robust panel, the texture of the brushwork complements the vivid, earthy tones of the desert, embodying the raw beauty of the Californian wilderness.The painting is signed by the artist in the lower right corner and dated 1958, indicating a period of intense creative output before his full-time commitment to painting post-retirement. It measures 24 inches by 30 inches and maintains excellent condition, preserved with its vivid colors and detailed composition intact. On the reverse, a card notes the artwork as "#14, Sept 73 show S.G.V.A.A Honorable Mention," marking it as one of DuShane's award-winning pieces from the San Gabriel Valley Artist Association show in 1973. This recognition likely marks one of his last public acknowledgments in an art show before his passing in 1974.

Raymond DuShane, born in Pennsylvania but a long-time resident of Pasadena, California, was a dedicated plein air painter who became fully devoted to his art after a career in aviation assembly. His works, particularly those capturing the landscapes of California, Colorado, and the Grand Canyon, demonstrate a profound understanding of natural forms, light, and atmosphere. Posthumously, DuShane's talent was reaffirmed with a resurgence of interest in his works, highlighted by a successful solo exhibition "Westscapes" in 2004, thirty years after his death.

This painting not only represents DuShane’s passion for the American Desert landscape but also serves as a testament to his skill in translating the grandeur of the natural world onto art. It is a quintessential piece for collectors of American landscapes and admirers of traditional plein air painting techniques. less