Buck Paulson

Be Yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Claude Buck suggested that I read the book on George Inness, the eccentric Hudson River School artist, written by his son George Inness Jr. It is entitled, “The art, life and love of George Inness. I did………..seven times.

The enthusiastic George Inness Sr. would readily paint over: one of his own pictures, one of his sons paintings, over an artist’s painting which had been shown to him, or a patron’s art purchased in advance by George Inness . Most of the time, George could improve the painting, but once in a while they ended up as a loss. Ask the son; one of his paintings received the latter result. The father then told the son to wipe off of the canvas! AS IF THE SON HAD MADE THE MISTAKE. The father said, “You had something great! Don’t do that again!” The patient son never complained, just glad to have his painting restored from his fathers failed strokes.

One day in Claude Buck’s studio a large seascape rested on Claude’s easel. He was gone for the day. I looked, mused, and thought, “If I wereGeorge Inness, I would add a few smashes of lights to the wave. I paused, and then said, “I am George Inness!” In a few moments I had taken the palette knife and done my George Inness impersonation on his unfinished seascape. .” “There, don’t you like it better, I asked an imaginary viewer!”

The next week I returned to the studio. Claude was working on the large seascape. My strokes were missing. Sheepishly, I confessed that I had added the extra strokes. Claude looked puzzled. I asked if he hadn’t seen my Inness strokes? He said, “No, I just corrected what needed to be done.” From then on, I thought, “I can have enthusiasm, I just don’t need to imitate the personality of another artist.

Recently, 22 years after Claude’s passing, a friend of mine called and said that he had a Claude Buck painting, but that it had been damaged…and wondered if I could I repair it?

“Bring it over,” I said. Then with all of the knowledge gained from the great master, Claude Buck, I was able to work as Buck Paulson, not as George Inness, and do the work that would have made Claude proud. I have enclosed the painting for your viewing pleasure.

Knowledge, inspiration, and careful work, not mere imitation will do much to bring you success.