Lee E. Gaskins Jr.  Oct, 30, 1910-   November 20, 1991.
This site will showcase the work that my father-   Lee E. Gaskins  Jr.  created for over fifty years.  The  mastery of  his  original watercolor style (loosely based on the old  Brandywine school watercolor style  is unique  and unparalleled  for its truthful beauty, insight and composition.



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Resume:     Lee E. Gaskins Jr.



History:

Born in  Schenectady, N.Y.  Oct, 30, 1910. 
        Died  November 20, 1991.
Graduate of the Philadelphia College of Art-
       1934.
Studied under reknown artists- Henry C. Pitz
        and Thornton Oakley.
Attended the University of Pennsylvania.
41 years of teaching in Elizabeth Public
        Schools.
Former President of the N.J. Watercolor
        Society.Lectures and Demonstrations.
3 1/2 years in U.S. army engineers WWII
       (Africa, France, Belgium).

Exhibitions:

Butler Institute of American Art- Youngstown,
        Ohio.
Academy of Fine Art- Philadelphia, Pa.
National Academy of Design- N.Y., N.Y.
Newark Museum- Newark, N.J.
Montclair Museum- Montclair, N.J.
Morris Museum of Arts and Sciences-
        Morristown, N.J. 

One Man Shows:

Old Mill Galleries- Tinton Falls, N.J. (2)
Paper Mill Playhouse- Millburn, N.J.
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Maplewood Memorial Library

In Permanent Collection:

Butler Institute of American Art-  Youngstown,
        Ohio.  
Art work is in many private collections in
        U.S.A. and Europe.

Other:

Numerous awards in juried shows.
Listed in the book- `American Artists of
        Reknown'.
Represented in the book- `Prizewinning  Art
        book #7'.
Written up in `La Revue Moderne,' Paris,
        France- May 1953


Representation:

Lee Gaskins III
51 Guinard Drive
Watchung, NJ  07069
908-769-3244

  
    ee E. Gaskins  was born in the October 30, 1910 and  lived his  early years in  Schenectady and Amsterdam, N.Y., in  the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains.  This  environment peaked his  interest in nature.
     He was a member of the track team at  Schenectady High School, being the  treasurer/secretary of the Spiked Shoe Society.
    He  worked  driving a tractor for a construction company so he could  attend, the  Pennsylvania Museum's School of Industrial Art,  full-time, learning from such noted artists as: Thorton Oakley, Aureolo Renzetti and Henry C. Pitz. During the  depression years and jobs were hard to find, Lee  learned about a teaching opening in  Elizabeth, N.J.,  and stayed there  41 years until retiring in 1976.
During WWII,   Sergeant Gaskins  spent three and a half years in the U.S. army engineers of which three years were spent oversees in Africa, France, and Belgium during the height of World War II.
Though a complete painter-  masterly handling oils, charcoal, and other media;  Lee decided to  concentrate on the difficult medium of watercolors, combining  a Brandywine School of  painting foundation, with his  own sensibilities  and uses of wet on wet, and wet on dry techniques.
    His  work resides in the permanent collection of the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio and he has exhibited  in the Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, The National Academy of Design in New York City, The Newark, Montclair, and Morristown  Museums in N.J. as well as exhibited at the Garden State Arts Center, the Golden Door Gallery   in New Hope, PA. One man shows in N.J., such as:  Fairleigh Dickinson University,  Papermill Playhouse and the Old Mill Gallery in Tinton Falls, etc..  In addition, he gave  many lectures and demonstrations in galleries, museums, numerous art societies,  and other institutions throughout the state of New Jersey.
Mr. Gaskins' art  is represented in the book- " Prize Winning Art ",- book #7, by Allied Publishing, Florida, and have also been written up in the Parisian Art Magazine " The Review Modern, "  May, 1953, France, and is listed in the book " American Artists of Renown,-" Wilson Publishing, Gilmer Texas.  renown.
The late- Michael Fullihan and John Shaw, both  collectors of  old Masters work, (Raphael, Rubens, Bierstadt),  stated that "Lee Gaskins' watercolors  easily  excels   the work of Andrew Wyeth."   
Though a quiet  and soft spoken man,  who always put his family above his career,   Mr. Gaskins spoke loudly with his art. From bold applications in his oils to  delicate and detailed watercolors,  and powerful drawing skills, he has amassed a stangering and diverse body of work.  His understanding and  use of design, color, concept, mood and technique   rivals and even surpasses other watercolor `legends.'
Lee's  philosophy,  was  based on over 50 years of training and experience, his simple  theory,- that a picture should bring a measure of joy and happiness to the world. " After all, there is enough ugliness about us, so why add to it?" His low-key personality  often complimented  his palette, his use of  earth-tones and his fondness for nature.
After being hit by a car while walking a across the street to the  Scotch Plains post office in the mid  80's,  Lee's work  suffered  a crippling  blow after a  series of strokes. The last mjor stroke,  bed-riddfened him, until he passed on  November 20, 1991.

      His kind demeanor, consideration, love and of course his art  was a  model for countless students, his family and  friends. His legacy will live on in his art.

       Lee is survived by his supportive wife- Mary; his daughter- Sandy paints miniature copies of old masters  art as well as creates chain mail-based  jewelry, while his son- Lee (III), teaches art,  illustrates, and is a   game designer and writer.





















































































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