The Art of Lord Robert Baden Powell

Two years ago this month, Rick and I were in Dallas for his mom's birthday. We took time to visit the National Scouting Museum, then located in Irving, Texas. One of the exhibits that fascinated me featured the art of Lord Robert Baden-Powell.

 

Powell served in the British Army but for others around the world he is best known as the founder of the world-wide Scouting movement, first the Boy Scouts and then with his sister Agnes, of the Girl Guide and Girl Scout movement. He also wrote the first editions of "Scouting for Boys." 

 

What people may not realize about Baden-Powell was that he was a remarkable artist who painted almost every day from his childhood. His father was an amateur artist as was his grandmother and he came by it naturally and with support. 

 

He had an interesting style, shifting his brush from one hand to the other with little change in style or skill. He worked in pen and ink doing advance sketches for his paintings. He spent many of is later years in Africa and many of his paintings reflect this. 

 

Baden-Powell's first British Army commission sent him to India. 

His letters home included stories of the people and sites he observed and they were liberally illustrated with images describing the scenes. He was also an avid art journalist -- long before art journaling became a "thing."

 

He also received an invitation from The Graphic, a newspaper offering payment for his sketches from the front. 

 

Baden-Powell was an avid traveler, both through his Army commissions and independently. His travels took him to Switzerland...

Greece...

....and to Canada.

 

Some of his work was done while touring Tunis and Algeria. He wrote many books and often his later works focused on African themes.

 

In 1910, he retired from the army organized the scouting movement. When girls appeared at the first Scout rally in 1909, they told him they were "Girl Scouts."  He and his sister then formed the Girl Guides, which evolved into Girl Scouts in some areas of the world. 

 

When Baden-Powell retired in 1937, he and his wife, Olave, whom he had married in 1912, moved to Nyeri, Kenya, where he died and was buried in 1941.

 

I wonder what he would  think of recent controversies in the Scouting world. I know that being an Eagle Scout was a big part of Rick's growth and development and always spoke highly of the movement.

 I'm so glad I was able to see this collection before the Scouting Museum in Irving closed. Powell's art is a wonderful example of both watercolor work and journaling...

...and certainly an inspiration.

Sharing with:     Pink Saturday     /     Timeless Thursdays    

The Boy Scouts -- But Wait, There's More!

The Rockwell paintings were my favorite part of the National Scouting Museum. But I wanted to share a few more bits in case you are able to get there in person. It's well worth visiting, especially on Sunday or Monday when it's free! (Remember, if you are interested in this and in the Dallas area, the museum closes in May to move to a locaton in New Mexico.)

My experience with Boy Scouts is limited but what little I had was good. Both the kids were in Scouts when I came into their lives. Rick and his buddy Paul were involved with the troop. I didn't go to the meetings in general but did attend some of the special occasions. The Pinewood Derby was always a favorite.

At the Scouting museum, we were reminded of those times as they had a track set up with a timer so that the handmade cars could race for glory!

Those memories bring a smile to my face. Lots of little boys with the cars they'd carved and painted carefully (with the help of a parent of course, some perhaps more than necessary). They were all so proud of them! The track took over a good part of the church basement and everyone was eager to see which car would win.

Then there was the time we hosted the Scouts from Trinidad for a Jamboree. (My jamboree photo of the musuem didn't turn out well, but I still want to share the story!)

One of their scoutmasters, Camille, stayed at my house, with Rick hosting two of her fellow leaders. We attended some fun activities but one of the things I remember most was Camille, who we christened Hurricane Camille. The storm had passed the autumn before but Camille lived up to it -- a whirlwind who had a love affair with the washing machine and must have washed everything at least twice during her three-day stay! She also poured catsup on her pizza which was interesting.

One of the highlights of the visit was when the troop came over to Rick's with their host families for a dinner that the kids prepared. It was a rice dish with sausage and veggies called Pilau and boy -- did its preparation ever take over the kitchen! While the cooks were sweating it out in the hot summer over the stove, others were on the patio playing their steel drums. A night to remember.

I bring this up because Scouts have had more than their share of problems in the past. Rick's friend calls them the "Three G's" -- Girls, Gays and God. And they're working on it, not necessarily pleasing all but moving the organization forward. But the skills that are conveyed to these boys and young men are valuable ones. Rick said he learned pretty much everything he needed to know in life through his scouting activities. It broadened his view of the world at a young age and taught skills he would continue to use forever, from management to survival.

Rick was an Eagle Scout and credits his scoutmaster as being one of the most important influences in his life. I'm sure a lot of those memories came back to him as he walked through this well done museum.

He celebrated his sixteenth birthday at Philmont Scout Camp in Cimarron, NM (the future site of the museum -- we can't figure out why) and there were displays related to camp.

(We also remembered Greg going off to Scout camp and being simply miserable and homesick. That was his last experience with the Boy Scouts!)

There are plenty of interactive exhibits at the Scouting museum. Apart from the Pinewood Derby and a cave you can crawl through (I didn't), there was a marksmanship gallery.

I did pretty well, but Kitty was aces! (Let's just say I'm not messing with Rick's mom!)

There were lots of displays of Scout memorabilia -- badges, handbooks and even china.

A large section was devoted to the watercolors of Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts. I'll do a post on that one in the future.

Whether or not Scouting is something that was part of your own life of that of your children, I can recommend the National Scouting Museum wholeheartedly.

Just see it soon!

Norman Rockwell and the Art of Scouting

I'm going to say this first thing: If you are in the Dallas area, you want a wonderful attraction that includes a significantly large collection of Norman Rockwell paintings, exhibits and interactive activities, all with free admission (Sundays and Mondays; admission other days), check out the National Scouting Museum in Irving on Walnut Ridge Road, near MacArthur Blvd.

And check it out fast because in May the non-art part of the museum is moving to Cimarron, NM and to the Philmont Scout Camp.

Rick, his mom and I visited this before he and I headed home. This post is in two parts and the first focuses on the art collection. You'll see numerous photos of Rockwell art in this post. If the topic interests you, check out the photo captions for more details.

The Scoutmaster was painted in 1954. The scouts had him go back and revamp the tents because his first time through the sides of the tents were missing (like an Army tent). The scout tents have narrow sides at the bottom of the A-frame

 Many Norman Rockwell originals are included along with art by Joseph Cstari, artist for the scouts.

The blog Illustration Art posted their answer to the difference between fine art and illustration. From the point of the writer, there is no difference apart from the way the artist is paid. (Often fine art is done with no direct buyer in line, while illustration tends to be done for magazines, books or other printed material and the artist is paid by the job. There are, of course exceptions.)

(By the way, if you are into this, check out the article. It's pretty interesting!)

I didn't get the name on this one but our guide reminded us that the eyes of the two scouts in front tend to follow you no matter where you stand. And yes, they do.

I was glad to read this because I sometimes hear illustrators put down and it is so unfair. Their work tells stories and in the case of Norman Rockwell (and Joseph Cstari) no one can say the work is shoddy.

"Mighty Proud" shows a young scout moving up from Cubs into his Boy Scout uniform. You can tell the family is as thrilled as he is!

 Norman Rockwell has always been a favorite of mine. He captures the human spirit in fine detail -- the joys, the concerns, the pleasures and the perils of life.

"Forward America" was an illustration for the 1951 Brown & Bigelow Boy Scout calendar. It is unique in portraying scouts from different programs offered at the time -- Explorer, Cub, Boy Scout, Air Scout and Sea Scout (the latter two now defunct).

He is perhaps best known for his illustrations in Saturday Evening Post but I didn't know his first job was doing art for the Boy Scouts. He did numerous pieces of calendar art, including Boy Scout Calendars for the Brown and Bigelow company, among his other projects.

Rockwell's life wasn't a particularly happy one. He suffered from depression and his second wife also spent time in a psychiatric clinic. His work was dismissed by serious art critics until later in his life and his work was often considered sentimental, idealistic and "not serious." It wasn't until later in his life when he chose more serious subjects for his work that he began to claim a wider respect.

I am a sucker for Rockwell's work, having tried with little success to paint something with the complete detail, soul and personality that would be a worthy try. (Maybe it isn't my style or medium but oh, I love it!) I love the heart and energy and sheer joy.

I loved that he used the people he knew as his models and painted from photographs, often setting up an elaborate scene or going out into the field to set the stage.

"Men of Tomorrow" was an oil done for the 1948 calendar. The Cub Scout in the foreground was modeled by Peter Rockwell, the artist's younger son. His next-door neighbor was featured as well, posing for six figures. He held hiking poses in the studio while posing on wooden plants to simulate the walking effect. He was paid five dollars for his work. Our guide told us that the first figure was doing the tradition scout "good deed" by carrying the hat of the boy carrying the canoe. He also explained that some Rockwell's have the script signature, not his preferred version in his later work..

We enjoyed a number of his paintings at the musem. Our guide, 90-year-old Paul Ernst, had met Rockwell during his many years working with the Boy Scouts. If you happen to stop by (we went on a free Monday), I hope you have the opportunity to meet this remarkable man. He knew the work, he knew the stories, he knew the myths and the methods. We couldn't have asked for anyone more personable or knowledgeable to be our guide.

For example, check out the texture on this painting. Traditionally Rockwell painted in a very smooth style.

But here you will note texture and use of the palette knife in the clouds and ground.

He also pointed out to us that while Rockwell had two signatures, the block letters here were his preferred version.

The artist often included dogs in his paintings and not surprisingly many of those he used were his own.

I loved this piece, "The Homecoming," capturing the family's enthusiasm as they welcome their home from camp. Note the energy, the partial leg and skirt of someone at the top of the steps. And if you look carefully, you will see that the step angle changes somewhat from top to bottom. Clearly, he was working from two different photos for the steps.

I really loved the detail on the wallpaper.

And check out the detail on the arm patch.

Of course, it had a Lizzie cat, so what's not to love?

Rockwell worked for the Boy Scouts and also did art for their handbooks. If you note in the photo below, the book cover is not yet painted. He hadn't decided what he wanted to do.

                    

Here is the finished version as it appeared on the handbook.

Then there was this one, another calendar piece.

You can see the tips of the shoes, the humanity of the aging sailor...

and the detail of the globe.

Detail. Rockwell does it well. Rick had me be sure to capture this painting. (Pictured as a detail)Note the fingernails. They've been out and about!

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't show some of the work of another artist who worked with the Scouts after Rockwell. Joseph Cstari is, I think, his equal in skill.

There isn't quite enough art to catch the "heart" of the work. I won't say it doesn't exist, but I see these less as telling a story than as illustrating a point.

But done well indeed.

So, two thumbs up and a big Boy Scout salute to this museum. But if you want to see this collection, get there soon!

Not a scouting painting, yet one of my favorites!

And ask for Paul!