Neil Welliver

Neil Welliver (American, 1929-2005) is best known for his large-scale, vivid paintings and woodcuts of the remote Maine wilderness. Born in the small town of Millville, Pennsylvania, he first studied at the Philadelphia Museum College of Art, followed by Yale, where Josef Albers and Burgoyne Diller were among his teachers. Their influence, as well as the rising popularity of Abstract Expressionism, was evident in Welliver’s earlier experimentations in abstraction, including color-field painting and watercolors of town scenes.

Welliver would go on to teach at Yale from the mid 1950s to the mid-1960s, by which time he had moved formally towards the representational, beginning to travel to Maine and paint the landscape there. He also produced scenes of nude bathers in streams, their bodies abstracted by the moving water. Although he continued working as the chair of the University of Pennsylvania graduate school until his retirement in 1989, he moved to Lincolnville, Maine, in 1970, and by the 80s was painting landscapes almost exclusively. The resulting body of work nods to many of Welliver’s early influences, as he utilizes natural repetitions and distortions to represent the innate abstraction of the natural world. These mature works were based on long plein-air studies, where Welliver would carry a 70-pound pack of painting supplies into remote landscapes, and sit for three-hours at a time. He continued to paint the landscape surrounding his large property in Maine until his death in 2005.

Work Available

Featured

Untitled (Dead Tree)

1976, oil on linen, 14 x 9 inches

Study for Light Study

1996, oil on canvas, 12 x 12 inches

Beaver Dam

oil on canvas, 24 x 24 inches

Barren

ca. 1981, oil on canvas, 12 x 14 inches

Flotsam Allagash

1988, oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches

Marsh Shadow

1984, oil on canvas, 96 x 96 inches

Big Flowage

1979, oil on canvas, 96 x 96 inches

Two Nudes (Twice)

1970, oil on canvas, 72 x 60 3/8 inches

Prints

Featured

Stump

2000, woodcut, 35 x 34 inches

Flotsam Allagash

Flotsam Allagash

1995, woodcut, 30 x 30 inches

Two Mergansers

1992, woodcut, 30 1/2 x 32 inches

Wood Duck

1934, woodcut, 34 1/2 x 33 1/2 inches

Winter Rainbow

1983, etching, 27 x 28 inches

Night Scene

1981-82, woodcut, 14 x 16 1/4 inches

Trout and Reflections

Trout and Reflections

1980, hand colored etching, 29 1/2 x 36 inches

Big Flowage

1979, woodcut, 18 x 18 inches

Immature Great Blue Heron

Immature Great Blue Heron

1978, hand-colored etching, 30 3/4 x 28 7/8 inches

Canada Geese

1978, lithograph, 11 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches

Moose

1981, aquatint, 17 1/2 x 14 1/2 inches

Salmon

1977, etching, 26 3/4 x 36 inches

Trout

1973, etching, 11 x 15 inches

Ducktrap

1973, silkscreen, 40 x 40 inches

Raymond's Stream

Raymond's Stream

1973, silkscreen, 40 x 40 inches

Greer's Bog

1973, silkscreen, 40 x 40 inches

Brigg's Meadow

1973, silkscreen, 40 x 40 inches

Work Exhibited

Old Windfall

1981 - 1982
oil on canvas
96 x 120 inches

Trees Reflected on Ice

Trees Reflected on Ice

2002
aquatint on Rives BFK
22 1/2 x 23 3/4 inches sheet
Edition of 65

Synthetic Blue--St. John

Synthetic Blue--St. John

2000
aquatint on Fabriano Tiepolo
18 x 18 inches
Edition of 80

Study for Joanna's Marsh

Study for Joanna's Marsh

2000
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Magog's Bog

2000
oil on canvas
72 x 72 inches

Study for Autumn Beaver House

Study for Autumn Beaver House

1998
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Aqua Spring

Study for Aqua Spring

1997
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Illusory Flowage

Study for Illusory Flowage

1996
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Falls - Jam Brook

Study for Falls - Jam Brook

1996
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Fallen Firs

Study for Fallen Firs

1996
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Bruno Falls, High Water

Study for Bruno Falls, High Water

1996
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Top of Bruno Falls

Top of Bruno Falls

1994
oil on canvas
60 x 60 inches

Study for Erratic and Snow

Study for Erratic and Snow

1993
oil on linen
18 x 18 inches

Study for Fire's Edge and Singed Firs

Study for Fire's Edge and Singed Firs

1992
oil on canvas
23 3/4 x 24 inches

Fire's Edge and Allagash

Fire's Edge and Allagash

1992
oil on canvas
72 x 72 inches

Thaw on Black Brook

Thaw on Black Brook

1991
oil on canvas
60 x 72 inches

Study for Islands Allagash

Study for Islands Allagash

1990
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Snow in Hope Brook

Study for Snow in Hope Brook

1990
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Red River Falls

Study for Red River Falls

1990
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Mist - St. John's

Study for Mist - St. John's

1990
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Across St. John

Study for Across St. John

1990
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Thaw at Pond Pass

Study for Thaw at Pond Pass

1989
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Thawed Ledge

1988
oil on canvas
60 x 60 inches

Stumps and Allagash

Stumps and Allagash

1988
oil on canvas
36 x 36 inches

Ledge on Black Brook

Ledge on Black Brook

1988
oil on canvas
72 x 72 inches

Study for Ledge on Black Brook

Study for Ledge on Black Brook

1987
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Sky in Cora's Marsh

Sky in Cora's Marsh

1987 - 1988
woodcut on Kizuki Nishinouchi
34 1/2 x 35 inches, sheet
Edition of 90

Stump and Ferns

Stump and Ferns

1986
oil on canvas
60 x 60 inches

Study for Photon

Study for Photon

1986
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Outcropping

Study for Outcropping

1986
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Orange Brook

Study for Orange Brook

1985
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Little Spruce

Study for Little Spruce

1985
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Little Marsh Spring

Study for Little Marsh Spring

1985
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Light on Ledge

Study for Light on Ledge

1985
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Little Marsh -- Last Snow

Little Marsh -- Last Snow

1985
oil on canvas
60 x 60 inches

Study for Venus

Study for Venus

1983
oil on canvas
20 x 18 inches

Midday Barren

1983
oil on canvas
96 x 96 inches

Blueberries in Fissures

Blueberries in Fissures

1983
oil on canvas
96 x 96 inches

Study for Peat Bog

Study for Peat Bog

1982
oil on canvas
24 x 36 inches

Study for Granite Boundary Flowage

Study for Granite Boundary Flowage

1982
oil on canvas
20 x 20 inches

Study for Beaver House

Study for Beaver House

1982
oil on canvas
20 x 20 inches

Study for Low Water - Knight's Flowage

Study for Low Water - Knight's Flowage

1980
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Study for Dead Pine

Study for Dead Pine

1980
oil on canvas
12 x 12 inches

Study for Summer Shadow

Study for Summer Shadow

1979
oil on canvas
18 x 18 inches

Osprey Nest

1979 - 1980
woodcut
29 1/4 x 31 1/2 inches

Big Flowage

1979
oil on canvas
96 x 96 inches

Back of Hatchet

Back of Hatchet

1978
oil on canvas
96 x 120 inches

Study for Prospect

Study for Prospect

1976
oil on canvas
20 x 18 inches

Study for Purple Boulder

Study for Purple Boulder

1974
oil on canvas
12 x 14 inches

Study for Stump and Ferns

Study for Stump and Ferns

1973
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Figure Laving

1971
oil on canvas
60 1/8 x 60 1/8 inches

Vickie

1970
oil on canvas
48 x 48 inches

Two Nudes in a Forest Pond

Two Nudes in a Forest Pond

1970
oil on canvas
60 x 60 inches

Two Figures (Twice)

Two Figures (Twice)

1970
oil on canvas
72 x 60 3/8 inches

Johanna Removing Shirt

Johanna Removing Shirt

1968
oil on canvas
60 x 60 inches

Olivia Seated

1967
oil on canvas
76 x 72 inches

Figure with Shirt

Figure with Shirt

1967
oil on canvas
72 1/4 x 72 inches

Diane with Soap

Diane with Soap

1967
oil on canvas
48 x 48 inches

Skeletons in Water

Skeletons in Water

1966
drawing; watercolor and graphite on paper
34 1/2 x 22 3/4 inches

Figures Under Tree

Figures Under Tree

1964
drawing; watercolor and graphite on paper
22 x 17 inches

Study for Amon's Orchard

Study for Amon's Orchard

1964
drawing; watercolor and graphite on paper
17 x 22 1/2 inches

Red Slips

1967
oil on canvas
71 x 67 inches

Nothing Yet

1964
oil on canvas
72 inches diameter

Butterfly

1964
drawing; watercolor and graphite on paper
17 x 13 3/4 inches

Floating Figures

Floating Figures

1959
oil on canvas
36 x 32 inches

Study for Brigg's Meadow

Study for Brigg's Meadow

c. 1972
oil on canvas
11 3/4 x 13 7/8 inches

Wedding

c. 1963 - 1964
oil on canvas
48 inches in diameter

Self-Portrait

c. 1962 - 1964
oil on canvas
19 x 14 inches

Hand and Flowers

Hand and Flowers

c. 1962 - 1964
oil on canvas
20 x 20 inches

Family Portrait

Family Portrait

c. 1961 - 1962
oil on canvas
25 x 22 inches

Untitled

c. 1960 - 1962
watercolor and graphite on paper
17 x 13 3/4 inches

Self-Portrait with Folded Hands

Self-Portrait with Folded Hands

c. 1960 - 1962
oil on canvas
19 x 14 inches

Self-Portrait

c. 1960 - 1962
oil on canvas
19 x 14 inches

Marching Band

c. 1962 - 1964
watercolor and graphite on paper
8 1/2 x 11 1/4 inches

Untitled

c. 1960 - 1962
watercolor and graphite on paper
8 1/4 x 11 1/4 inches

Untitled

c. 1960 - 1962
watercolor and graphite on paper
14 x 16 7/8 inches

Untitled

c. 1960 - 1962
watercolor and graphite on paper
8 x 10 3/4 inches

Untitled

c. 1960 - 1962
watercolor on paper
13 7/8 x 17 inches

Male Two Nudes (The Beautiful Gabrielle and the Marechale de Balagny)

Male Two Nudes (The Beautiful Gabrielle and the Marechale de Balagny)

1964
drawing; watercolor on paper
20 3/4 inches, diameter

Floating Figures

Floating Figures

1959
oil on canvas
36 x 32 inches

Maine Woodland

1969 - 1970
oil on canvas
72 x 72 inches

Study for Spring Brook

Study for Spring Brook

1982
oil on canvas
24 1/8 x 24 1/8 inches

Sky in Cora's Marsh

Sky in Cora's Marsh

1986, oil on canvas, 96 x 120 inches

Study for Low Water-Knight's Flowage

Study for Low Water-Knight's Flowage

1980, oil on canvas, 24 x 24 inches

Old Windfall

Trees Reflected on Ice

Synthetic Blue--St. John

Study for Joanna's Marsh

Magog's Bog

Study for Autumn Beaver House

Study for Aqua Spring

Study for Illusory Flowage

Study for Falls - Jam Brook

Study for Fallen Firs

Study for Bruno Falls, High Water

Top of Bruno Falls

Study for Erratic and Snow

Study for Fire's Edge and Singed Firs

Fire's Edge and Allagash

Thaw on Black Brook

Study for Islands Allagash

Study for Snow in Hope Brook

Study for Red River Falls

Study for Mist - St. John's

Study for Across St. John

Study for Thaw at Pond Pass

Thawed Ledge

Stumps and Allagash

Ledge on Black Brook

Study for Ledge on Black Brook

Sky in Cora's Marsh

Stump and Ferns

Study for Photon

Study for Outcropping

Study for Orange Brook

Study for Little Spruce

Study for Little Marsh Spring

Study for Light on Ledge

Little Marsh -- Last Snow

Study for Venus

Midday Barren

Blueberries in Fissures

Study for Peat Bog

Study for Granite Boundary Flowage

Study for Beaver House

Study for Low Water - Knight's Flowage

Study for Dead Pine

Study for Summer Shadow

Osprey Nest

Big Flowage

Back of Hatchet

Study for Prospect

Study for Purple Boulder

Study for Stump and Ferns

Figure Laving

Vickie

Two Nudes in a Forest Pond

Two Figures (Twice)

Johanna Removing Shirt

Olivia Seated

Figure with Shirt

Diane with Soap

Study for Amon's Orchard

Red Slips

Nothing Yet

Butterfly

Floating Figures

Study for Brigg's Meadow

Wedding

Hand and Flowers

Family Portrait

Untitled

Marching Band

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Male Two Nudes (The Beautiful Gabrielle and the Marechale de Balagny)

Floating Figures

Maine Woodland

Study for Spring Brook

Sky in Cora's Marsh

Study for Low Water-Knight's Flowage

Press

Linea: Neil Welliver's Oil Studies
The New York Times: Painting the Wilderness From the Inside Out
The Free Press: "Snow on Alden Brook" by Neil Welliver
The New York Times: Representational Work in Years When Abstract Was Hot
ARTnews: Neil Welliver
The Portland Press Herald: Maine Perspective on Art Transition Displayed in Farnsworth Exhibition
The Brooklyn Rail: Neil Welliver- The Absent Painter
The New York Sun: Neil Welliver
ARTnews: Neil Welliver
The New York Observer: Welliver Captured Nature's Logic With a Serenely Intractable Vision
The New York Times: Obituaries- Neil Welliver, 75, Painter of Large-Scale Landscapes
The Boston Globe: Survival Artist
ARTnews: Neil Welliver
The New Yorker: Neil Welliver
The Washington Post: The Pierre Matisse Collection-Nothing New Under the Sun
The New York Sun: Gallery Going-Neil Welliver
Art in America: Neil Welliver at Alexandre
The New Yorker: Neil Welliver
The New York Times: Neil Welliver- 'Early Figurative Paintings'
The New York Times: Art- A Playboy at Work- Neil Welliver’s Paintings Spoof El Greco

Essays/Interviews

Dr. John Silber: Memorial Service for Neil Welliver
David R. Slavitt: Neil Welliver
Mark Strand: Welliver's Woods
Barry Schwabsky: Neil Welliver's Nudes
Ruth E. Fine: Neil Welliver
Frank H. Goodyear, Jr.: Neil Welliver
John Ashbery: Neil Welliver

Past Exhibitions

2018: Paintings and Prints
2015: Oil Studies and Selected Prints

Selected Biographical Notes

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