Joseph McGurl
Born 1958, in Boston, Massachusetts; lives in Cataumet, Massachusetts
JOSEPH MCGURL is one of the most sought after and influential landscape artists currently working in America. His work is included in the Forbes and Mellon collections and is part of multiple museum collections. Joseph has recently returned from China where he was invited to represent American landscape painters and, along with painters from around the world, presented a series of lectures and painting demonstrations. Additionally, he has been the subject of numerous book and magazine articles and conducts workshops and presents lectures nationally. His video, “Painting Light and Atmosphere,” is a best-selling landscape painting video.
Joseph grew up working with his father, James McGurl, who was a muralist and his most influential teacher. He graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and studied at the University of London and with Boston University in Italy. In search of a more solid training in drawing, he sought out Robert Cormier, a devotee of the French Academy methods, and for two years studied sight-size figure drawing with him.
Joseph’s interest in modern physics and the nature of reality combined with the spirituality he finds in nature has resulted in a thoroughly modern approach to style and subject. He is a devoted plein air painter, which allows him to connect with the landscape on a profound level and gain a deep understanding of his subject. Rather than relying on photography, this method gives him the freedom to create paintings based on his imagination, memory, and observation. Although the objects depicted in the paintings are elements of the landscape and have a deep personal meaning to him, of equal importance is the exploration of light, form, space, and color interpreted through paint. For Joseph, the West provides the same sense of space and unlimited freedom he found on the ocean as a former yacht captain.
Notable Awards and Achievements:
2020 Coors Western Art Show, Patrons’ Choice Award
2018 Art Renewal Center International Salon, First Place Landscape Category, Plein Air Magazine Award and Third Place plein air category Coors Western Art Show, Patron’s Choice Award
2017 Fine Art Studios Online, BoldBrush Painting Competition, BoldBrush Award
2016 Tweed Museum of Art, Light Speed purchased for the collection
2015 Art Renewal Center International Salon, American Fine Art Magazine Award of Excellence
2013 Art Renewal Center International Salon, First Place Landscape Category, Purchase Award
2006 Laguna Plein Air Invitational, First Place and Patron’s Choice Award
1997 Guild of Boston Artists, Gold Medallion
1989 Copley Society of Boston, the John Singleton Copley Award for Artistic Achievement
Memberships
American Society of Marine Artists, Past Fellow
Art Renewal Center, Living Master
Copley Society of Boston, Copley Master
Guild of Boston Artists, Elected Member
Plein Air Painters of America, Signature Member
Gallery Representation
Cavalier Galleries, New York City
Collins Galleries, Orleans, Massachusetts
Haynes Galleries, Thomaston, Maine
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
Palm Avenue Fine Art, Sarasota, Florida
Joseph McGurl Studio Gallery, Cataumet, Massachusetts