Philip Jamison Coastal Scene Watercolor Painting , Signed & Framed 1950's

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Philip Jamison (American, 1925–2021)
Untitled Coastal Scene (signed lower left)
Watercolor on paper

This evocative watercolor by Philip Jamison captures … Read more Philip Jamison (American, 1925–2021)
Untitled Coastal Scene (signed lower left)
Watercolor on paper

This evocative watercolor by Philip Jamison captures the quiet poetry of the American coastline through his masterful handling of light and atmosphere. With a muted palette of soft grays, earthy browns, and cool blues, the scene depicts a rustic cluster of seaside buildings, their weathered forms standing in gentle harmony with the surrounding landscape. A single boat rests in the foreground, its stillness underscoring the contemplative mood, while delicate washes and fluid brushwork suggest the hazy presence of sea air.
Jamison’s ability to balance detail with abstraction is evident here — the structures are rendered with architectural clarity, yet the softened edges and tonal variations imbue the work with a dreamlike quality. The composition reflects the artist’s lifelong devotion to watercolor as a medium of immediacy and subtlety, as well as his deep sensitivity to the enduring character of New England’s coastal villages.
Signed in the lower left, this work exemplifies Jamison’s reputation as one of the foremost American watercolorists of the 20th century, blending technical mastery with a profound sense of place and atmosphere.


Dimensions:
Framed : 15”H 25”W 1"D
Matted : 13"H 23"W
Unmatted/ artwork sheet : 10.75”H 20”W

About the artist:
Philip Jamison (American 1925–2021)
Philip Jamison was an American painter, educator, and author best known for his luminous watercolors of landscapes, seascapes, interiors, and still lifes. Born in 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jamison grew up in West Chester and went on to study at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art (now the University of the Arts). After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he returned to complete his training and began a long, distinguished career as an artist.
Working primarily in watercolor, Jamison developed a style celebrated for its subtle atmospheres, delicate handling of light, and quiet lyricism. His subjects ranged from the rolling Pennsylvania countryside to coastal Maine, domestic interiors, and garden scenes. Deeply inspired by nature, he imbued his compositions with both intimacy and serenity, making his work widely admired among collectors and museums alike.
In addition to his painting career, Jamison was a respected teacher and author. He wrote books on watercolor technique, sharing insights into his creative process, including Making Your Paintings Work (1987) and Capturing Nature in Watercolor (1996).
His works are held in the collections of major institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Over the decades, Jamison earned a reputation as one of America’s foremost watercolorists of the 20th century.
He lived and worked for most of his life in Chester County, Pennsylvania, until his passing in 2021 at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy of art marked by elegance, tranquility, and deep respect for the natural world. See less