Walter Parke
Walter Parke, "Janice on Brownie"Sheila Wolfson studied with Walter Parke
at the Palette and Chisel
back in the 1970's,
and she has just sent us
some photos from that class
as well as from her collection
of Parke's prints and paintings.
(she also notes that when she visited his home
it was packed with stacks of paintings
and she wonders where they all went.
Anyone with more images to share
would be much appreciated!)
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1909, Walter Parke studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and with Wellington J. Reynolds (1869-1949).
He began teaching at the Palette and Chisel in 1966, and was a member of the Brown County Art Guild, Municipal Art League, and the Oak Park Art League.
According to Sheila:
There is a Parke at the Union League Club, but I’ve never been able to find it. And the actor Vincent Price had collected many of his paintings. I don’t know if they were for his personal collection or for the Sears thing he was involved in.
Many years ago I went to the Cuneo Museum and Gardens in Vernon Hills, and was thrilled to see 3 or 4 huge portraits on the walls by Walter Parke. (His portraits were extraordinary!!!) The next time I saw him I mentioned them, and he told me that in his youth he had lived in a groundskeeper/custodian shack on the grounds of the mansion for three years, while he painted numerous portraits of Cuneo family members. After he died I happened to back there again, and there was only one portrait hanging, of Mrs. Cuneo’s sister, who had lived at the mansion with them for many years. The curator at the time didn’t know what happened to the others.
"This is a mural he painted somewhere in a capitol building, I believe. He only had a small snapshot of it, and I took it and had some enlargements made for him, and kept one for myself, but I see the color has faded badly."
Student in Saturday class: “Walter! Don’t work on my drawing…I want to be able to say I did it.”
Walter Parke: “Well, be sure to tell them you did it wrong.”
These are some other images
I found on the internet
And here's some pulp fiction
he illustrated in 1946
The above was sent to us
by a print collector
who specializes in the Alamo
Here are some more pieces sent from another former student.
posted by chris miller at 9:46 AM
10 Comments:
I have two original oil paintings by Walter Parke that were given to my wife's grandfather by Walter Parke in Chicago. I would like to know what they are worth? dusty3d@bellsouth.net
Hi There,
My name is Becky. I have stumbled across your page and I am willing to answer any questions you may have about my dad Walter Parke.
It is so heart warming to know that people truly appreciate my fathers artwork.
My sister and I divided most his work after his passing and plan to market a lot of his prints and some of his original oils.
I haven't begun that process yet, if you could suggest any art appraisers in the Chicagoland area it would be very much appreciated.
Thank you for the time you took to post your stories. I recognized the picture in front of his home in Naperville but don't know the people?
With Sincerity & Gratitude,
Becky
I love his work.
I own 4 of Walter's original oils purchased from his family's basement soon after he passed away. I was also a student of his at the Palette........an amazing artist. I feel blessed to have his work in my home. Libby Pattishall
If you could send me any photos of them, Libby, I'd love to post them on this website.
I have an original water color that looks like a barn from Naperville, IL. My parents had this in their home, but am not sure where they got it, although they lived in Naperville, too. It is entitled 'Lonely Barn' and I love it. I'm trying to find out more about Walter Parke, but am having some difficulty. Would love to learn more. Ginger
Hi Ginger,
I'd love to post an image of that Naperville barn if you could send it.... Chris
Hi Chris, I ran across a signed and numbered print by Walter Parke at the local flea market in S.C. It is entitled "Hit and Run" and is a sketch of a darling boy running away from a vase of flowers that he accidentally (or intentionally) broke. I tried in vain to find another print like it on the internet and that is when I found your blog. Please advise if you would like me to send an image to you.
I would appreciate it, thank you.
Hello, I also have some of his art work. I'll be sure to go to my parents house and take pictures. I'm actually Walter Parkes great grandson son. Some of them were just pasted on to me, but I havnt brought them to my new place yet.
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