Bryant White
Bryant White
Bryant & his wife Pamela, both artists, both musicians, paint scenes and occurrences of 18th Century America, focusing on the French & Indian War, the American Revolutionary War, & Eastern Woodland Native Americans.
Artist Statement: I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. I realize how fortunate I am to have known what I wanted to do as a profession for most of my life. I have been interested in 18th Century American history for most of my life as well. These two passions are combined in my paintings. Reading first person accounts- diaries, journals, and publications of the 18th Century is what inspires me to create this artwork.
The remarkable experiences of our ancestors are what I try to capture on canvas- the hardships, the joys, the lesser known stories that we can all learn from. I have visited all the sites that I’ve painted, which gives me a great perspective, being able to stand in the same places our forefathers have, and in many cases to see the same view they would have seen. So many things have changed since the Colonial times… I try to be as accurate as possible in the material culture shown in my work by studying period artifacts in museums and private collections.
My artwork is created for several reasons- the primary one being to educate the public in the history of America… to draw them into our past, where they may learn. An axiom of many historians is “those who don’t know their past are doomed to repeat its mistakes.” I hope my artwork will inspire generations to avoid those mistakes by gaining interest in history. Another reason, of course, is the deep desire to create. The process can sometimes be tedious, with many hours devoted to research, sketches, and finally the layout of the composition, but after the final brushstroke of oil paint is applied, the feeling of making art that many people can enjoy is very satisfying.
-Bryant White
