Note Type
Antony Hayton, Exhibit DirectorNote
George Buckner (1942-2002)
Tranquil Currents
Oil on Upson Board circa 1968
Image size 24" X 36"
After their father died, George Buckner, then still in school (the eldest of 12 children), and his younger brother Ellis left school to help support the family. They did whatever work was available, picking citrus, working construction, cutting lawns, and running a barbecue shop. George Buckner was an accomplished musician who could play piano, guitar, and saxophone; he played in a local band. Harold Newton lived nearby, and George and his brother Ellis watched him paint. After a few of these encounters with Harold, they both started learning to paint, realizing that painting would be more profitable than cutting grass and their other pursuits. Eventually, their work would be among the best.
Buckner and his brother consistently worked on improving their techniques and skills, moving away from the traditional Upson Board to canvas. George sought guidance from A.E. Backus, whom he admired greatly. Today, he is considered one of the most technically accomplished Highwaymen painters, with his work standing out among his contemporaries for its exquisite detail and precise execution. He is especially renowned for his skies and clouds and the "shimmering" quality of his landscapes. This tranquil waterway is beautifully colored and portrayed; notice the "C" framing one side of the composition, a Highwaymen trademark, as is the etching of their signatures into wet paint.