Jack Wemp

Although Jack produced dozens of paintings throughout his early days and commercial career, in 1977, he all but gave up his commercial art business to begin painting full-time. A keen interest in 19th century sailing ships and farming helped to shape the subject and style of his paintings. Earlier work exhibited his expressionist style in his landscape art and seascapes. Into the 80’s as his representational style developed, his vibrancy was evident in his tumultuous seas and magnificent skies. Always a stickler for detail, his attention to perspective and shadow were second to none. Often Wemp built models for his work to capture subtle shadings. His work always had a place in the seasons and a story behind it. Much of his work exhibited a heart and arrow with JW loves PW inscribed within. This symbol would be discreetly illustrated as a carving in a tree, building or furniture and was a testimony of his love for his wife of nearly 60 years, Peggy.

After working for Keystone press and Cockfield, Brown & Co in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, he moved to New York City where he began work as an illustrator for Sales Graphics, a large Mid-town studio and later became the studio's art director. After three years, he opened his own studio Wemp & Williamson and later, Jack Wemp Inc. During this time he produced illustrations, graphics, film and full scale national sales shows for such notable clients as Breck Shampoo, Johnson & Johnson and American Cyanamid. Wemp employed the services of such notables as artists Sam Kweskin, Stan Learner and writer John Bishop. With the recession of the '70's and cutbacks in large sales shows, Wemp moved from his Westchester home to Northern Dutchess County, where he could further phase out from the Madison Avenue scene. Here Jack opened his Artists Studio in Rhinebeck, New York where he briefly dabbled in ceramics. He soon took on the position as art director and production manager for Taconic Press Newspapers from 1975–1977.

Jack Richard Wemp (November 29, 1925 – November 13, 2005) was an American artist whose painting styles spanned the Depression era, expressionism, 1960’s contemporary art styles, and, for the last 30 years of his life, a realist style reminiscent of the Hudson River School.

Born in Seattle, Washington in 1925. At the beginning of the Great Depression, his father moved the family to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Encouraged by his artistically talented parents, Jack began to draw and paint at an early age and art was always his favorite school subject. In high school, he had the benefit of having a very talented and professional artist for an instructor. However, as much as an art career appealed to Jack, it seemed at the time, that a more stable career should be pursued. During his high school summer vacations, he worked as a cowhand on the vast Half-Diamond-One cattle ranch west of Calgary. This experience led him to the agricultural college of the University of Alberta, but after six months he volunteered for service in the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and went overseas to England. When World War II ended, Jack was appointed as a staff artist by his commanding officer and this experience reinforced his desire to pursue art as a career. Jack is a graduate of Olds School of Agriculture in Olds, Alberta, Canada. He studied art and advertising at the Provincial Institute of Technology and Arts in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the California School of Art in Los Angeles and the Art Center School (Art Center College of Design) in Los Angeles where he studied under Ed Reep.