About the artist:

Edgar A, Whitney, A.W.S. spent twenty-five years in commercial art, including five years as art director at McCann-Erickson, before devoting himself full time to painting and teaching. He taught figure, portrait, and pictorial composition at Pratt Institute, lectured at New York University, and was a guest lecturer at the Columbia Graduates Club. In addition, he demonstrated and taught for art organizations throughout the United States. Around 1958, Mr. Whitney taught in the New York metropolitan area in spring and fall and conducted his "Whitney Watercolor Tours Through New England" in summer, and lectured in the South and West in the Winter. Edgar A Whitney was a contributing editor to American Artist and is the author of the article on watercolor and casein painting in the Grolier Encyclopedia. A film short by Universal Films, titled Watercolor Holiday, features Mr. Whitney. Ed Whitney never discounted the social aspect of what he did. He was admittedly an entertainer in addition to doling out solid information and challenging his students, often in a dramatic manner. Personally, I feel that instructors who do offer a bit of the entertainer flair and are also willing to support the growth of a light-hearted group dynamic, often succeed in reducing many of the tensions and inhibitions that impede the creative process. Anyone who has taught a week-long workshop understands the challenges present amidst the fun.