Payne, Edgar, 1882-1947

At the age of fourteen, Edgar Payne left his childhood home of Washburn, Missouri, to travel the United States and Mexico. Payne survived by performing odd jobs including painting signs, stage sets, and houses. Payne, who had a fifth grade education, considered himself to be primarily self-taught. However, he received art training at the Payne-Morris Studio in Dallas, Texas, and at the Art Institute of Chicago, eventually becoming one of the primary plein-air landscape painters in the early 20th century.

Beginning in 1910, Payne found employment painting murals in civic buildings, courthouses, and theatres throughout the Midwest. He married fellow artist, Elsie Palmer, in 1912, and in 1915 Payne moved with his family to Santa Barbara, California where he began to focus more of his time on easel painting.

Payne relocated to Laguna Beach, California, in 1919 where he became the founding president of the Laguna Beach Art Association, which is presently known as the Laguna Beach Art Museum. In addition to his membership with the Laguna Beach Art Association, Payne was also a member of the California Art Club in Los Angeles, the Palette and Chisel Club in Chicago, and the Salmagundi Club in New York. Payne traveled, painted, and exhibited in Europe between 1922 and 1924. In 1923, he was included in the Paris Salon, where Payne won an Honorable Mention, which was significant recognition because more than 7000 paintings were exhibited.

Payne is internationally famous for his depictions of the High Sierras, Indians riding through desert canyons, landscapes of the Sierra Nevada, and French and Italian boats scenes. He is also know for his book titled "Composition of Outdoor Painting", which is now in its fifth printing and used by artists, teachers and collectors around the world. Payne died in Los Angeles, California on April 8, 1947.

This particular painting by Edgar Payne titled "Headin' for the High Country" will be in the upcoming Jackson Hole Art Auction on September 19, 2009.