David Fairrington Original Vintage American Modernist Oil Painting "The Ladies" 1968 Vietnam
Original vintage figurative portrait oil painting titled "The Ladies" of a group of women in Vietnam, by American modern artist, David Fairrington.
David Fairrington, an American artist, is widely recognized for his realistic portraits, although his artistic repertoire extends to encompass various subjects such as landscapes, still life, and Western art. He employs a diverse range of styles, including abstract, conceptual, fantasy, figurative, impressionist, pop art, and romantic. Fairrington attributes his artistic influences to renowned artist John Singer Sargent and acclaimed illustrator Norman Rockwell.
Early Life: Born on 18 October 1940 at Fort Lewis, Fairrington grew up in a military family. His father, Ralph W. Fairrington, served as a career soldier in the United States Air Force, while his mother was Grace L. Fairrington. Fascinated by his older brother's talent for drawing, Fairrington initially tried his hand at sketching airplanes but soon discovered his knack for capturing faces, leading people to commission him for portrait work. He utilized this skill to support his studies at Texas Technological College (now known as Texas Tech University). During his time at Texas Tech, Fairrington also served as a staff artist for the 1961 La Ventana yearbook. In 1964, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in advertising art and design, and that same year, his artistic prowess earned him recognition as a winning artist in the Motorola National Competitive Exhibition. Fairrington then spent the following two years working for different advertising agencies.
Vietnam Combat Art Program: In 1966, Fairrington was drafted into the United States Army and underwent basic training at Fort Polk before being assigned to the Postal Department at Fort Sill. During his off-duty hours, he enrolled in art classes at South Eastern College in Lawton, Oklahoma.
Upon completing a year at Fort Sill, Fairrington received orders transferring him to the 43rd Signal Battalion stationed in Pleiku, Vietnam. It was there that he first learned about the Vietnam Combat Artists Program. Motivated by this opportunity, Fairrington applied along with a collection of his drawings and paintings, which led to his acceptance into the program. He was subsequently assigned to the Army Combat Artist Team VI in Saigon.
After spending 60 days capturing his impressions through preliminary sketches, Fairrington traveled to Hawaii to finalize his paintings. His artwork was exhibited at Ala Moana Center and Schofield Barracks before being sent to the Army archives in Washington, D.C. Despite completing his artistic duties, Fairrington still had three weeks of service remaining and returned to Vietnam to complete his tour of duty.
The art produced by Fairrington during his service as a soldier-artist in Vietnam is now part of the permanent US Army Art collection, curated by the United States Army Center of Military History (CMH) in Washington, D.C. A selection of his work was featured in the exhibition "The Art of Combat: Artists and the Vietnam War, Then and Now," showcased at the Indianapolis Art Center from October 2000 to January 2001.
Fairrington's artwork was also included in the "Art of the American Soldier" exhibit organized by the U.S. Army Center of Military History, which was displayed at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia in 2010. The collection is now maintained online in a military art gallery.
Bay Area Figurative, Abstract Expressionist
Oil on Board
Combat Art
1968
Vietnam
"The Ladies"
Figurative
Women Sewing, in Coolie hats
The date of creation is 1968.
The painting is still housed in the original era vintage California modernist-style wood frame, with a gold accent.
The painting measures approximately 30.3"wide X 20.5", plus frame, and is in good condition; there is a small crack on one side of the back/corner top of the frame, that is not visible from the front; but does not affect the integrity/stability of the frame. There are a couple of very minor chips on the painting that has been unrestored. The painting is in original condition, with no overpaints, cleans, or restorations.
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