Images(2)

"Forest, Figures, and Flowers"

DateJanuary 22-29, 1970

Artist/Maker Eddie Arning (1898 - 1993)

OriginAmerica, Texas, Austin

MediumOil pastel ("Cray-pas") on wove green paper.

DimensionsOverall: 21 15/16 × 32 1/16in. (55.7 × 81.4cm) Framed: 30 1/4 × 39 7/8 × 1in. (76.8 × 101.3 × 2.5cm)

Credit LineGift of Dr. & Mrs. Alexander Sackton

Object number1985.201.2

DescriptionOutermost border is dark green, followed by a bright yellow-green inner one. Composition shows a male and female about center, each facing to viewer's right and holding arms out to side but hanging down from elbow. The female wears a red skirt, brown jacket over red shirt, brown stockings, and black shoes; the male wears a brown shirt, brown socks or stockings, knee-length purple pants, and black shoes. Both have bright pink skin with blue ears and eyes. Below and to the left of them are yellow cog-like shapes; seven stylized green and brown trees are in back- ground with an eigth, different tree at far right. Two and three colored bars are interspersed through background. Orange is behind figures, blue "mountain" shapes run horizontally beyond with grey sky above.
Label TextArning has resided in mental or nursing homes for most of his adult life. He began drawing in 1964, at age sixty-six, under the encouragement of an aide in one of the homes, Helen Mayfield. Following the common practice of his later artistic career, Arning's lively interpretation of FORREST, FIGURES, AND FLOWERS was inspired by a full-page color photograph that appeared on p. 170 of READER'S DIGEST, XCV (October 1969). The shot by Robert Phillips illustrated Frank J. Taylor's article "Magic with Mums."
InscribedIn pencil in script on the reverse is "Eddie Arning." In lower right corner on reverse is Sackton inventory no. "1285" in black ink under signature.
ProvenanceIn 1970, the drawing was acquired directly from the artist by Dr. and Mrs. Alexander H. Sackton of Austin, Texas; in turn, the Sacktons donated the work to the Folk Art Center.