My New Favorite Artist Scott FitzGerald

So the artist Scott FitzGerald is not really a new favorite artist. I’ve owned a couple of his pieces for over a year now. Well. Not really a couple of pieces. One. One piece. But I have my eye on another…  Afternoon Light is closest to the one I own. The colors are more muted in this one. Maybe mine’s earlier in the day… Tee hee.

He recently had a Retrospective Exhibition in September and put the website up, and that’s when I first saw his etchings. Which are amazing. That’s my real next goal. I have one of the paintings, now I need one of those insanely detailed etchings.

He’s nearly impossible to find on the Internet because of that damn name. Anytime you look up anything close to Scott FitzGerald, naturally F. Scott Fitzgerald comes up.

And then if you try adding “etchings” or “paintings” it doesn’t help, because then you get a bunch of images of F. Scott Fitzgerald. He’s not a bad looking guy, even if it does look like he used a tube of Brylcreem a day. It’s just not what I wanted. (Which they still make. The Brylcreem, I mean. I kid you not. Check it out here. Isn’t that enough to make you want to buy some?)

But I digress. This are all reasons why I decided that the real Scott FitzGerald needed a little promo from me. (Even if it is on a blog that very few people enjoy…)

I love him because he completely reminds me of those Romantic artists from the 19th century. Casper David Frederich and all that.

And the etchings are almost Steampunk, wot? OK. Not really. But maybe some strange, quirky, 1940’s California Steampunk… The Rocketeer, right? There was even an airship, for goodness sake. Done. I’m calling it. Steampunk. Enjoy.

etching by artist Scott FitzGerald

22 thoughts on “My New Favorite Artist Scott FitzGerald”

  1. Trudy

    Hi Jenny,
    Many years ago, my late husband and I owned a store in Fullerton, where Scott worked and lived. He came in fairly often and bought supplies from us. It was an office supply store, but we also carried art supplies and gift items. We were so impressed with his work – his first series of the etchings that you refer to, that we bought a complete set for our own use and also many pieces to sell in our store. I would really love to know what the collection is valued at in today’s market. I’m in a much smaller home now and just can’t display all the pieces the way I’d like to. My late husband was an artist, too and we collected other works, as well, so I just can’t keep everything. I am in complete agreement with you – his talent for detail goes beyond any I’ve ever seen…and he was a really nice guy, to boot!

    Reply
    • Jenny

      Oooh…I’m so jealous. To have too much art to display! 🙂 And that you’ve met him–thank you so much for telling me the story!

      Reply
      • Debi

        I was a visitor in his studio in Fullerton several times, in the etching days. A lot (if not all??) of the items he included in those etchings were things that he had sitting around the studio 🙂

        Reply
  2. Steve

    I met Scott through my brother and his wife Doug and Jackie, whose names are in the corner of a building on one of Scotts etchings. I was fortunate to have recieved some of Scotts work for Christmas and birthday presents.I use to love that part of Fullerton where the Silver Cow [owened by Charlie Thacker] was. Interesting folks,and a blast in the 70`s.

    Reply
    • Steven J. Thacker

      I have several of Scott’s etchings. They were given to me by my father, now deceased. He was the Charlie Thacker that owned the Silver Cow which you mentioned. It is wonderful to read that someone actually remembered my Dad’s store in Fullerton. He moved to West Virginia into a new build log cabin home to be near his family. He died of heart failure at 63 in 1991. I will always treasure Scott’s etchings and think of my Dad when I view them. Thanks for the memory!! Steve Thacker, Sarasota, Florida

      Reply
      • Jenny

        What an awesome story, Steven! I currently work for Roger Thomas, a friend of Scott’s who also lived in Fullerton. I’m going to have to ask him about the Silver Cow now! 🙂

        Reply
  3. Jackie

    Is there a reference for values of Scott Fitzgerald’s etchings? I have a friend who needs help in selling some and not sure how to go about that. Please help if you can.

    Reply
    • Jenny

      Hi Jackie! I’m so sorry – I honestly have no idea about values for his etchings (or his paintings, for that matter!) 🙂 The About page of his website does have an email address if you’d like to contact him, however.

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      • Oscar Smith

        Jenny, Where do I begin? I have two of the early etchings. One of the ‘Little Red Car’, a train that once travelled through Huntington Beach, nearly on the beach. The other ‘The Capistrano Station’. My late Dad and Mom, Ed and Amanda Smith owned a photographic art gallery, called The Image Gallery, next door to the original Silver Cow in The Villa Del Sol building. They feature some of his artwork. Tony Sanchez was the founder of the original Silver Cow, then sold it to Charlie Thacker who moved it across the street. I would love to share a story or two with Steve Thacker if you can contact him. I would be interested in the value of my prints, as well.

        Reply
        • Jenny

          How lovely! I do love Scott’s etchings as well as his paintings, and his new machines series is fantastic. I have to apologize – I honestly have no idea on the value of the prints, nor do I know Steve Thacker personally. I have had Steven mention the Silver Cow on this blog post, however! It sounds like it was a great place.

          Reply
  4. Mike and Cheryl Beal

    My wife and I fell in love with Scott’s prints in the 80’s. Our dining room in Temecula feared many of them I can tell you they are priceless to us even though we had to buy them in installments when we were first married. I taught at Troy high school and was turned on to Scott’s works by one of his teachers. We are looking to adda few more. Everyone loves to take our antique magnifying glass and we usually have to pul them away. Hard to believe the hours involved and the relatively small numbers of copies. No one will ever replicate the combination of talent, skill, charn, and detail of the artist. We treasure our collection.

    Reply
    • Sherry Carlson

      I have 3 of Scott’s etchings that I inherited from my Mother who worked at Troy HS – her name was Penny Weinmann. I also went to Troy in Fullerton. I was dismayed to see that 6 signed etchings sold as a lot on “liveauction” for only $40.

      Reply
  5. ladykthrne

    Jenny I have Scott’s etching called The Attic. It is a signed litagraph. I love it and years ago I paid almost $600.00 for it. Of course it was framed, and I purchased it at an art gallery in CA. I also visited the gallery in Fullerton which had so much of his work. I thought then as I do now that he was amazing.

    Kathy in Texas

    Reply
  6. V.porter

    Hello i have over 20 of his works..I went to the store in Fullerton alot..I still have my invitation that was sent to me to come to the store that is signed by him it has river an small bird on ..:)

    Reply
  7. Malcolm L

    I shared a house with Scott in the late 60’s, remember his motorcycle that he never changed the oil. I received a BA from the same art department he would later become chairman. His etchings catch the times he portrayed. I got an A/P of “That Old Red Car” hanging in my office that I got from him over 50 years ago. On a fun night we grabbed a large stuffed toy rat and applied shave cream and proceeded to shave the poor thing – another roomate was so disturbed by our noise and “frivolity” that he moved out the next day. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jenny

      Hi Malcolm! I chat with Scott occasionally and told him about you and your comment. He laughed and completely appreciated it. Thank you so much for reaching out! Jenny

      Reply
  8. Leslie

    It is wonderful to read all the wonderful comments about my brother’s artwork! I, too, have a houseful of his etchings. Even at the friends and family price I could not afford any of his oils. I change out the etching on a regular basis, so my walls are never the same.

    Reply
    • Jenny

      Hi Leslie, So nice to meet you! I change out artwork all the time as well, and Scott’s is always in the rotation. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Bernadette Shoemate

    Do you still write a blog, Jenny? I find this so much fun but it’s really old. I also own and cherish several prints from Scott.
    Bernadette

    Reply
    • Jenny

      Thank you so much, Bernadette. So glad to find so many people who love Scott’s work as much as I do. He deserves it!

      Reply

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