The New Hope Artists Colony: John Fulton Folinsbee

"Frozen River" by John Folinsbee

"Edward Redfield's reputation attracted several artists to the New Hope area. John Fulton Folinsbee, Walter Baum, and George Sotter were three artists much indebted to Redfield's painterly methods, and like Redfield they specialized in winter landscapes.

Many would consider Folinsbee to be the most gifted of the three. He was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1892. By 1906 he had contracted polio, which forced him to spend his life in a wheelchair. He went to Woodstock, New York, in 1912 to study with Birge Harrison at the Art Students League Summer School. But Harrison had already retired from teaching and had left the school under the supervision of his assistant, John F. Carlson, an Impressionist landscape painter. Although he studied with Carlson for three summers, Folinsbee also received much help and encouragement from Harrison.

In 1914 Folinsbee married Ruth Baldwin. They first came to New Hope in 1916 to visit Birge Harrison, who was residing there at the time. The Folinsbees became enchanted with the area and remained. After eight years they built a home overlooking the river in New Hope. Of the Impressionists who settled along River Road, Folinsbee's home was the closest to the town. 

Edward Redfield and John Folinsbee became good friends. Redfield was Folinsbee's most important early influence, and they were close friends for the remainder of their lives. But Redfield was a rugged man and Folinsbee was disabled. Of course, this makes Folinsbee's achievement all the more heroic."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "The Pennsylvania Impressionists" by Thomas Folk.)