Andrew McDuffie Vincent

Andrew McDuffie Vincent

Vincent, Andrew McDuffie

Hutchinson 1898

Oregon

painter

Northwest artist

Oregon artist

Andrew Vincent and his family moved to Salem, Oregon in 1910. After graduating from Salem High School in 1917, Vincent went to France with the Signal Corps where he recorded his WWI experiences in cartoon form. Some of these were published by the Boston Post in 1919.

From 1923 to 1928 Vincent studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, winning the Knapp Memorial prize in 1928. He taught there briefly before moving to a position as art instructor for painting and drawing at the University of Oregon in Eugene. By 1931 Vincent had been appointed head of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, a position he held until his retirement in 1968. During his tenure he brought the Carnegie Program to the University in 1930. Yale University and the University of Oregon were the only schools to take part in this fifteen year summer program for art teachers and art educators from all over the United States. He was director of the program during its last few years.

Vincent was well known for his WPA murals, such as that of the old Salem Post Office installed in 1942, now the State Executive Building. He painted additional murals for the Toppenish, Washington Post Office in 1941, the Eugene Council Chamber, and the Sunset Inn at Gold Beach, Oregon.

His canvases were described as big, bold, and warm as evidenced by his use of light and color. His earlier works show some influence of Cézanne. He made few changes to his palette throughout his career. Andrew Vincent influenced the Oregon art scene through his painting, exhibitions and teaching. Many practicing artists had the benefit of his long teaching career. He spent the final years of his life living and painting in Brookings, Oregon.

Artist biography reproduced with permission from the authors, Oregon Painters: the First Hundred Years (1859-1959), Ginny Allen and Jody Klevit.

Male

Teacher of: Vernon Witham (American, born 1925)