Untitled (Hunter and Dog)
31.5 x 31.5 in (80 x 80 cm) including frame
John Clymer was a pivotal figure in American Western art, serving as a bridge between the classic golden age of illustration and the formal easel painting of the Cowboy Artists of America (CAA). Born in Ellensburg, Washington, Clymer’s career was defined by an exhaustive commitment to historical accuracy. Alongside his wife, Doris, he traveled extensively to the sites of his subjects, ensuring that the geography, climate, and material culture in his work were grounded in reality. Before achieving acclaim as a historical painter, Clymer was a titan of commercial illustration, producing over eighty covers for The Saturday Evening Post between 1942 and 1962. His ability to distill complex narratives of the American West and Pacific Northwest into single, compelling images introduced a generation of Americans to the stories of the fur trade, cattle drives, and Indigenous life.
This oil on panel is an excellent example of the artist’s commercial period, likely produced for a high-profile illustration commission. Unlike his later, more panoramic historical scenes, this work focuses on the immediate, visceral experience of the outdoors. The composition follows the tradition of his mentor, Harvey Dunn, utilizing a rugged, painterly technique that prioritizes movement and atmosphere over fine-line detail. The scene depicts a hunter and his dog navigating dense brush, rendered with rapid, confident brushstrokes that give the woodland setting a sense of wild, untamed energy.
Technically, the painting showcases Clymer’s mastery of the "illustrative" style—where the goal was to draw the viewer instantly into the narrative. The low-key, earthy palette of umbers and ochres is punctuated by the cool greens of the hunter’s jacket, creating a focal point that guides the eye through the textured landscape. This work captures the essential spirit of the Pacific Northwest wilderness that Clymer spent his life documenting. It represents a vital era in his career when his illustrations were not just art, but a primary source of Western identity for thousands of readers across North America.
John Clymer
1907 - 1989 RCA
John Ford Clymer was born in Ellensburg, Washington in 1907 and began his artistic education through an Art Instruction School correspondence course. He continued his studies in Canada at the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University) under George H. Southwell and F.H. Varley, and at the Ontario College of Art's summer school under J.W. Beatty. Clymer spent eight years in Canada working as an illustrator for magazines including Western Home Monthly, Canadian Home Journal, MacLean's Magazine, and Chatelaine before moving to the United States.
In Westport, Connecticut, Clymer established himself as a prominent magazine illustrator, studying under Harvey Dunn at the Grand Central School of Art and receiving instruction from N.C. Wyeth. He created over eighty cover illustrations for The Saturday Evening Post between 1942 and 1962, along with work for magazines such as Good Housekeeping, Field and Stream, and Woman's Day. During his service in the Marine Corps, he illustrated for Leatherneck Magazine and painted a series depicting Marine Corps history during World War II. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, the Ontario Society of Artists, and the Salmagundi Club.
Clymer developed a meticulous research process for his historical Western paintings, working with his wife Doris to study subjects in detail before traveling to locations to capture the essence of geographical settings. He joined the Cowboy Artists of America in 1969 and became particularly known for his depictions of Pacific Northwest history, including Native American life, the fur trade era, and regional wildlife. His paintings combined historical accuracy with artistic skill, often featuring subjects such as bighorn sheep in mountain settings and scenes from the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Throughout his career, Clymer received numerous awards including the Prix de West from the Academy of Western Art in 1976 and the Rungius Medal from the National Museum of Wildlife Art in 1988. His work is permanently exhibited at the Clymer Museum of Art in his hometown of Ellensburg, Washington. Clymer died in Bellevue, Washington in 1989, leaving behind a significant body of work that bridged illustration and fine art while documenting the American West.
