He's Close to Being a "Pro"
ALONG convalescence from a heart attack five years ago induced Herbert F. West '22, Professor of Comparative Literature, to take up an absorbing hobby which is fast leading him from amateur to professional status. After painting his first watercolor in 1941, he did not consider trying his hand again until his illness in 1947, when he found he had lots of time but no freedom to pursue his usual activities. He took up painting more seriously, and now his hobby has won him away from many of his former interests and disposed of most of his available spare time.
Although he worked mainly with oils at first, Professor West has found that in many ways he prefers watercolor as a medium. Except for brief instruction with Paul Sample '20, Dartmouth's arti st-in-residence, Professor West is self taught. It is a continuing surprise to him, since he paints primarily because he likes to, that his pictures have sold about as fast as he can paint them. The majority have been bought by people who have seen them in exhibitions in the Carpenter Galleries in Hanover, in exhibitions on the Cape, and elsewhere.
He is aware that many of his winter pictures are somber in tone—"As I see this country, the farms are lonely, and winter is a hard time." But these scenes, especially, seem to be in demand. He does little work outdoors. Instead he keeps a sketch book of ideas and impressions, carries his idea in his head for some time, then does the actual picture in his studio at home. He has been asked to fill several commissions, among them a watercolor of the Old White Church for an alumnus. Forty-five of his Chipaintings sold in 1950, and forty in 1951.
Professor West, who also contributes regularly to the book review section of The New York Sunday Times, spent most of last summer preparing a book, Rebel Thought, which will be published by the Beacon Press. A study in naturalism, the book relates this influence to the achievements of such men as Socrates, Lucretius, Leonardo, Voltaire, Darwin, and others.
His work as secretary of the Friends of Baker Library in a sense combines Professor West's love of pictures with his abiding interest in books and book-collecting. It is in part the result of his continuing efforts that the Library has received many valuable book collections and well-known paintings by contemporary artists.
PROFESSOR WEST shown with two of his paintings at an exhibition in Carpenter Galleries.
