A Gifted Painter

[William Whitaker]

The Springville Museum of Art is holding a major show of Utah painting during the Olympics. The Director Vern Swanson gave me a catalog the other day and in it was this lovely drawing by my teacher, Alvin Gittins.

Title: "Portrait of Pregnant Carol Hogle."

This is the first time I've seen this drawing, but it is typical of his work. The man had the greatest gift for likeness I've ever seen. His work always stands out for it's power and expressiveness and well as for its beautiful lyrical line.

I was a sophomore in high school when I first saw one of his drawings resting in the living room of our home waiting to be hung in an exhibition. I was immersed in figure drawing at the time and knew just enough to know that this guy was really good. I eventually quit high school to go study with him at the university. I knew he was good, but I didn't realize just how unique he was. He was born in England but eventually chose to make the isolated backwater of Salt Lake City his home. During the Brave New World of the New York School, he stuck with the Old Ways and eventually received a fare measure of respect due to his massive ability, his brains and his English graciousness. I followed him around like a puppy.

Later I discovered that universities didn't ordinarily have people of his ability on their faculties. There wasn't anybody around who could do what he did. It was sheer good fortune on my part that I was in the right place at the right time.

He did hundreds of portraits, each and every one with the special "Gittins Look."

He was a liberal socialist and an intellectual, but got on famously with most people in a very conservative state. However, if he didn't like a sitter, it showed in the portrait.

In 1981 he prepared a retrospective show of his work and painted a self-portrait for the university. The day after the portrait was finished and the show was to open, he died. I attended a memorial service staged in the middle of the gallery, surrounded by his work. His close friend, the artist Doug Snow, summed it up by saying that timing like this was typical Gittins. He said that Alvin Gittins was the only man he knew who could tramp through the wilds of Arches National Park and not even get dust on his shoes.

Many of his former students, including myself, cried like children.

He was fifty-nine.

[Chris Saper]

Dear Bill,

What a wonderful, elegant piece. Every stroke has purpose, and there are neither too many, nor too few. The fingers are absolutely perfect; how rare to see a piece so complete that any change would diminish the drawing.

Moreover, what a gracious description from you. As obviously appreciatiative as you are, I am sure Alvin Gittins would feel just as fortunate to know you.

Chris

[Timothy C. Tyler]

Absolutely Great - are there more images and info anywhere that you know of? There really should be a thick book. How rare it is to see one work and know - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that this artist is awesome.

[Jesse C. Draper]

Here's a neat article on Alvin Gittins, which also includes some great images.
http://www.alumni.utah.edu/continuum/fall01/gittins.htm
Thanks Bill for the great Gittins charcoal drawing. It is now hanging on my wall.

[Karin Wells]

Here is his self-portrait. He completed it the day before he died....