Mid Ocean

Early Life and Education

Charles Herbert Woodbury, a renowned american marine painter, was born on july 14, 1864, in lynn, massachusetts. His early work was part of the oeuvre of the group later known as the Lynn Beach Painters. While an undergraduate at the massachusetts institute of technology (mit), woodbury became a regular exhibitor at the boston art club, earning the title of youngest member at just 19 years old. He relied on sales of his paintings and on giving art lessons to support himself and his parents. Upon graduating from mit with honors in mechanical engineering in 1886, he began teaching art classes in boston and devoting himself to painting, finding great success painting along the new england coast.

Artistic Career and Influences

After graduating from mit with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1886, woodbury had great success painting along the new england coast and in the towns and beaches of nova scotia. He studied at the Académie Julian in paris from january to june 1891, followed by a stint in holland, where he learned the techniques of modern dutch painters. Woodbury's work was influenced by his contemporaries, including John Singer Sargent, with whom he maintained a close friendship. He also had a pleasant acquaintance with J. Alden Weir and Childe Hassam. Woodbury was president of the Boston Watercolor Society and became an associate of the National Academy of Design in 1906, with full membership in 1907.

Notable Works and Style

Woodbury's more than fifty years of professional life were marked by a strong and consistent vision. He became a master of compositions of the coast and sea, as seen in his on-the-spot sketches and etchings, which produce a sense of motion through quick, sure-handed strokes. His maxim, “Paint in verbs, not nouns,” reflects his emphasis on movement and understanding. Some notable works by woodbury include:

• Mid Ocean, which earned him the second prize at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897.
• Watercolor studies of beaches and towns, backed by dramatic mountains and clouds, created during his later years spent in the caribbean.
• Over 500 etching plates, showcasing his expressive skill in this medium.

Museums and Collections

Woodbury's work can be found in various museums, including:

• The Art Institute of Chicago
• The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
• Metropolitan Museum of Art