'Gulls Near Carmel' by William Jack Laycox, 1968, Society of Western Artists, Monterey, California

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Signed lower right 'Jack Laycox' (American, 1921-1984); additionally signed, verso, titled, 'Gulls Near Carmel' and dated 1968.

An atmospheric, study … Read more Signed lower right 'Jack Laycox' (American, 1921-1984); additionally signed, verso, titled, 'Gulls Near Carmel' and dated 1968.

An atmospheric, study of a storm off the Carmel coast of Northern California.

Jack Laycox became a leading California painter of the mid-twentieth century, admired for a vivid, impressionist style that combined disciplined structure with animated color. Laycox first studied at the University of California at Berkeley and, subsequently, at San Francisco State College where he completed his Bachelor of Arts. He then worked as a technical illustrator for the Atomic Energy Commission, an occupation that helped develop his native talent for precision and clarity of line.

By the 1950's, Laycox was producing commercial designs for the Donald Art Company while steadily pursuing his fine art career. In Paris, 'La Revue Moderne' praised his canvases as “dynamic, vivid, animated and pulsating.” His chosen subjects ranged from San Francisco street scenes to European harbors and alpine churches, all rendered with vigorous brushwork, balanced composition and consistent attention to structure.

A long-time member of the Society of Western Artists, Laycox exhibited widely and with success including at the SWA and the American Watercolor Society as well as in New York and internationally. He was the recipient of numerous prizes and juried awards, including from Society of Western Artist's (1963), Diabolo Pageant Arts (1961) and the California State Fair (1965). The artist is well-listed in relevant art reference works including 'Who Was Who in American Art'.

Reference:
Who Was Who in American Art 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America, Peter Hastings Falk, Sound View Press 1999, Vol. 2, p. 1969-1970; et al. See less