Asa Lynn "Ace" Powell (April 3, 1912 – January 25, 1978) was an American painter, sculptor, and etcher of genre scenes and imagery relating to indians, cowboys, horses, and wildlife. His artwork was influenced by that of fellow Montana artist Charles M. Russell. Powell's lifetime body of work consists of between 12,000 and 15,000 artworks. Although he preferred working with oil paints, he also produced a large number of watercolor paintings and drawings, as well as a number of works in bronze, terracotta, and wood.
Powell was born in Tularosa, New Mexico, on April 3, 1912.[2] In 1913, at age one, his family moved to Montana where he spent his formative years in Apgar. His father worked as a wrangler and guide in Glacier National Park. Powell attended high school in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. While in his early 20s, Powell took a job as a wrangler on the Bar X5 ranch near Babb, Montana, and handled horses for the Glacier Park concessionaire.[2] As a young man Powell, whose parents were friends of Charles M. Russell, made the acquaintance of Russell whose summer home, Bull Head Lodge, was located in Apgar. He took a few private lessons from the great master, but for the most part Powell was a self-taught artist through trial and error.[2]
Marriages
When Powell's first wife Helena—who was born in Smolensk, Russia, in 1908—died in the bitterly cold winter of 1941, he joined the Army Air Corps and worked in a defense plant. Thereafter he was in the plastic figurine business in Yakima, Washington. He married a second time around 1946 to Audrey Scott, the union producing a son, Eddie. The marriage, however, would be short-lived as the couple was prone to fighting and she eventually left him.[3] Powell's heavy drinking[3] may have been a factor in their parting of the sheets. In 1952 he married fellow artist Nancy McLaughlin and the couple made their home in the town of Hungry Horse, a few miles east of Bad Rock Canyon, and operated a combination studio and gallery. A son, Dave Powell—who would go on to be a fine artist in his own right—was born to the couple.[4] It was during this period that Powell gained much of his reputation and began to garner a following of collectors who would patronize him for the rest of his career.[3] Their gallery/studio would burn to the ground in 1964, and shortly thereafter he and Nancy were divorced. His fourth marriage, in 1965, was to Thelma Conner and they made their home in Kalispell.[5]
College at University of Montana
In about 1952 he attended the University of Montana at Missoula on the G.I. Bill.[5] He found that the university's art department stressed abstract art, which wasn't a style particularly well suited for a realist painter such as himself. One of his teachers told him that he couldn't make a living as an artist and would have to teach art. When another instructor revealed that as a first-year teacher he was making $4,400, Powell replied, "Well, I'm an alcoholic and I was drunk half of the time last year and still make $7,500 so I've got no business here!" With that he quit. He subsequently took a correspondence art course and learned to organize the things he had been taught over the years into formal presentations.[3]
Career
During his career, Powell produced between 12,000 and 15,000 works of art. His preferred medium was oil painting, however he also worked extensively with watercolors. He also executed a number of works in bronze, terracotta, and wood. With regard to painting, Powell said: "I see a scene in my mind and I put it down on canvas. I want it to look like it came from the land. If at all possible, I try to get a crisp feeling into my paintings. Sometimes I get something into a canvas that is just right, then I work around it".[6]
In 1962 a Cincinnati, Ohio, couple took their one and only vacation to Glacier Park. They noticed a man in a cowboy hat painting at his easel near the Lake McDonald Lodge. Impressed by the artist’s work, they commissioned Powell on the spot to produce a large 4x8 foot mural painting featuring Lake McDonald. Long after the buyers were deceased, a deal was consummated in 2013 by a partnership consisting of Freedom Bank in Columbia Falls, Glacier Park National Fund, and Kalispell art dealer Kevin Moore to buy the painting at an undisclosed price from the unnamed couple’s daughter who wished to remain anonymous and still lived in Cincinnati. The painting had been purchased for the purpose of covering a bay window at the couple’s Cincinnati home. “They would rather look at Glacier National Park every day” than the view outside their window, Moore said. After being on display for a time in the Freedom Bank lobby, the painting was eventually donated to the Glacier National Park Fund and was relocated to Lake McDonald Lodge. As a fundraiser, 100 giclée oil-on-canvas reproductions were later sold by the Ace Powell Gallery at a price of $395 each, with a number being sold to Kalispell businesses.[7]
In a 1978 article written by Dr. Van Kirke Nelson for Art West Magazine, Nelson cites Powell as saying, "I have been more fortunate than most, helped and have been helped, painted some great paintings and some terrible paintings. There were times when I thought the price I was charging was close to larceny—so I have never regretted someone else making a dollar on my paintings as I'll get it back from them next time. I've shaken hands with the devil, perhaps more than most, but the good Lord has seen fit to keep me around for a bit longer".[8]
Death and legacy
Powell died on January 25, 1978, in Kalispell, Montana.[1][9] Upon his death, many dealers holding unsold Powell canvases immediately doubled their prices.[9] He is best remembered as one of finest painters of American western art in the 20th century. Some of his works are on display at the Hockaday Museum in Kalispell, Montana.
Awards and honors
Note: This list is incomplete.
The Ace Powell Award, named in Powell's honor as the award's first recipient, is given by the Western Art Association of Ellensburg to an artist who has made a significant contribution toward historical western art heritage or who has encouraged or supported western artists in an outstanding manner.[1]
Signature example
Powell signed nearly all of his works with this mark showing an ace of diamonds playing card and "Powell".[5]
References
^ abc"Artist Ace Powell dies". The Daily Record. Ellensburg, WA. January 28, 1978. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcMoynahan, J. M. (1974). The Ace Powell Book (First ed.). Kalispell, MT: Ace Powell Art Galleries, Inc. p. 15.
^ abcdMoynahan, J. M. "Western Realist: Asa Lynn Powell (1912–1978)". narhist.ewu.edu. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
^ abc"Ace Powell: Diamond of the West". HockadayMuseum.org. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
^Moynahan, J. M. "Ace Powell on Art". narhist.ewu.edu. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
^Mann, Jim (February 5, 2013). "Ace Powell Glacier art returns to Montana". The Daily Inter Lake. Kalispell, MT. p. 1.
^"Ace Powell (1912–1978)". MeadowlarkGallery.com. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
^ abHanson, William C. (March 10, 1978). "Copies of Western Art". Ukiah Daily Journal. Ukiah, CA. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
April 14, 2023
powell, lynn, powell, april, 1912, january, 1978, american, painter, sculptor, etcher, genre, scenes, imagery, relating, indians, cowboys, horses, wildlife, artwork, influenced, that, fellow, montana, artist, charles, russell, powell, lifetime, body, work, con. Asa Lynn Ace Powell April 3 1912 January 25 1978 was an American painter sculptor and etcher of genre scenes and imagery relating to indians cowboys horses and wildlife His artwork was influenced by that of fellow Montana artist Charles M Russell Powell s lifetime body of work consists of between 12 000 and 15 000 artworks Although he preferred working with oil paints he also produced a large number of watercolor paintings and drawings as well as a number of works in bronze terracotta and wood Ace PowellAce Powell c 1972BornAsa Lynn Powell 1912 04 03 April 3 1912Tularosa New Mexico U S DiedJanuary 25 1978 1978 01 25 aged 65 Kalispell Montana U S NationalityAmericanEducationSelf taught Influenced by C M Russell University of MontanaKnown forPainting and sculptureMovementRealism and ImpressionismSpouse s Helena Betty Sperry m 1938 1941 wbr Audrey Scott m 1946 wbr Nancy McLaughlin m 1952 1964 wbr Thelma Conner m 1965 wbr AwardsThe Ace Powell Award 1 Contents 1 Early life 1 1 Marriages 1 2 College at University of Montana 2 Career 3 Death and legacy 4 Awards and honors 5 Signature example 6 ReferencesEarly life EditPowell was born in Tularosa New Mexico on April 3 1912 2 In 1913 at age one his family moved to Montana where he spent his formative years in Apgar His father worked as a wrangler and guide in Glacier National Park Powell attended high school in Browning on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation While in his early 20s Powell took a job as a wrangler on the Bar X5 ranch near Babb Montana and handled horses for the Glacier Park concessionaire 2 As a young man Powell whose parents were friends of Charles M Russell made the acquaintance of Russell whose summer home Bull Head Lodge was located in Apgar He took a few private lessons from the great master but for the most part Powell was a self taught artist through trial and error 2 Marriages Edit When Powell s first wife Helena who was born in Smolensk Russia in 1908 died in the bitterly cold winter of 1941 he joined the Army Air Corps and worked in a defense plant Thereafter he was in the plastic figurine business in Yakima Washington He married a second time around 1946 to Audrey Scott the union producing a son Eddie The marriage however would be short lived as the couple was prone to fighting and she eventually left him 3 Powell s heavy drinking 3 may have been a factor in their parting of the sheets In 1952 he married fellow artist Nancy McLaughlin and the couple made their home in the town of Hungry Horse a few miles east of Bad Rock Canyon and operated a combination studio and gallery A son Dave Powell who would go on to be a fine artist in his own right was born to the couple 4 It was during this period that Powell gained much of his reputation and began to garner a following of collectors who would patronize him for the rest of his career 3 Their gallery studio would burn to the ground in 1964 and shortly thereafter he and Nancy were divorced His fourth marriage in 1965 was to Thelma Conner and they made their home in Kalispell 5 College at University of Montana Edit In about 1952 he attended the University of Montana at Missoula on the G I Bill 5 He found that the university s art department stressed abstract art which wasn t a style particularly well suited for a realist painter such as himself One of his teachers told him that he couldn t make a living as an artist and would have to teach art When another instructor revealed that as a first year teacher he was making 4 400 Powell replied Well I m an alcoholic and I was drunk half of the time last year and still make 7 500 so I ve got no business here With that he quit He subsequently took a correspondence art course and learned to organize the things he had been taught over the years into formal presentations 3 Career EditDuring his career Powell produced between 12 000 and 15 000 works of art His preferred medium was oil painting however he also worked extensively with watercolors He also executed a number of works in bronze terracotta and wood With regard to painting Powell said I see a scene in my mind and I put it down on canvas I want it to look like it came from the land If at all possible I try to get a crisp feeling into my paintings Sometimes I get something into a canvas that is just right then I work around it 6 In 1962 a Cincinnati Ohio couple took their one and only vacation to Glacier Park They noticed a man in a cowboy hat painting at his easel near the Lake McDonald Lodge Impressed by the artist s work they commissioned Powell on the spot to produce a large 4x8 foot mural painting featuring Lake McDonald Long after the buyers were deceased a deal was consummated in 2013 by a partnership consisting of Freedom Bank in Columbia Falls Glacier Park National Fund and Kalispell art dealer Kevin Moore to buy the painting at an undisclosed price from the unnamed couple s daughter who wished to remain anonymous and still lived in Cincinnati The painting had been purchased for the purpose of covering a bay window at the couple s Cincinnati home They would rather look at Glacier National Park every day than the view outside their window Moore said After being on display for a time in the Freedom Bank lobby the painting was eventually donated to the Glacier National Park Fund and was relocated to Lake McDonald Lodge As a fundraiser 100 giclee oil on canvas reproductions were later sold by the Ace Powell Gallery at a price of 395 each with a number being sold to Kalispell businesses 7 In a 1978 article written by Dr Van Kirke Nelson for Art West Magazine Nelson cites Powell as saying I have been more fortunate than most helped and have been helped painted some great paintings and some terrible paintings There were times when I thought the price I was charging was close to larceny so I have never regretted someone else making a dollar on my paintings as I ll get it back from them next time I ve shaken hands with the devil perhaps more than most but the good Lord has seen fit to keep me around for a bit longer 8 Death and legacy EditPowell died on January 25 1978 in Kalispell Montana 1 9 Upon his death many dealers holding unsold Powell canvases immediately doubled their prices 9 He is best remembered as one of finest painters of American western art in the 20th century Some of his works are on display at the Hockaday Museum in Kalispell Montana Awards and honors EditNote This list is incomplete The Ace Powell Award named in Powell s honor as the award s first recipient is given by the Western Art Association of Ellensburg to an artist who has made a significant contribution toward historical western art heritage or who has encouraged or supported western artists in an outstanding manner 1 Signature example EditPowell signed nearly all of his works with this mark showing an ace of diamonds playing card and Powell 5 References Edit a b c Artist Ace Powell dies The Daily Record Ellensburg WA January 28 1978 p 4 via Newspapers com a b c Moynahan J M 1974 The Ace Powell Book First ed Kalispell MT Ace Powell Art Galleries Inc p 15 a b c d Moynahan J M Western Realist Asa Lynn Powell 1912 1978 narhist ewu edu Retrieved 7 December 2015 Fauntleroy Gussie T D Kelsey Saddle Up SouthwestArt com Retrieved 7 December 2015 a b c Ace Powell Diamond of the West HockadayMuseum org Retrieved 7 December 2015 Moynahan J M Ace Powell on Art narhist ewu edu Retrieved 7 December 2015 Mann Jim February 5 2013 Ace Powell Glacier art returns to Montana The Daily Inter Lake Kalispell MT p 1 Ace Powell 1912 1978 MeadowlarkGallery com Retrieved 7 December 2015 a b Hanson William C March 10 1978 Copies of Western Art Ukiah Daily Journal Ukiah CA p 18 via Newspapers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ace Powell amp oldid 1135735862, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
