In WINCHELL PRICE MASTER PAINTER, Kevin Robert Turner offers an intimate glimpse into the life and work of the Royal Canadian Academy Artist with added first-hand stories from the years his parents, Melburn and Pearl Turner, served as patrons and care-givers for the painter. Price’s own memoirs, friend and fellow artist Roy Grandy’s commentary on selected works, and press clippings round out this in-depth study of Price.
In this retrospective of Winchell Price, Turner clearly conveys his admiration for the painter. As the son of the couple who rescued Price from a deteriorating cabin, giving him a place to live for two years of the author’s childhood, he offers a look into the everyday life and quirky personality of the master painter. The book, divided into three major parts, begins with a short biography, filled with anecdotes of Price’s peculiar habits and strange, almost childlike, interactions with the family. Price’s own reflections follow with the inclusion of his memoir. A third section of press releases concerning awards and exhibitions, and Dr. Patricia Anderson’s postscript about the artist’s legacy complete the book’s narrative. Interspersed between these divisions are sections of selected works, with accompanying commentary written by Price’s friend, Roy Grandy. These aesthetically pleasing color plates are rendered in bright, crisp hues, allowing the reader to sense the landscape artist’s style and emotional bond with his subject.
Though the author’s devotion to Price is evident, it is also clear that this book was written with admiration for his parents and their selfless care for the artist. Because of the Turner’s devotion to Price and his talent, he overcame many obstacles that could have hindered his achievements. Turner’s childhood memories of Price living with his family are written with affection and filled with funny encounters surrounding the eccentricities of the artist. Clearly, Price made an impact on the family, remaining a family friend until his death at 95. One wonders that if not for the pure devotion of both Turner’s parents and Turner himself, Price’s body of work would not be the large offering it is. Certainly, this book will bring his art to a larger audience. Those who delve into WINCHELL PRICE MASTER PAINTER will find in his work the purity of the artist’s eye, and in his life, a mesmerizing glance of his psyche.
Kevin Robert Turner’s exposition on Canadian artist Winchell Price is a compelling look at the unconventional painter’s life, told with honesty and compassion, by someone who knew Price and his work intimately.
~Kat Kennedy for IndieReader