Meet Mort Künstler at Print Signing!

Sally's Valentine

Date:        Saturday, February 6, 2016
Time:       2:00 – 4:00 pm
Location:  Long Island Picture Frame & Art Gallery
                 4 Audrey Avenue
                 Oyster Bay, New York 11771

For more information call: 516-558-7511

Just in time for Valentine's day, Mort Künstler will be signing his newest print Sally's Valentine in Oyster Bay. This beautiful painting is a depiction of an actual event – the presentation of the first recorded American valentine. British officer Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe fell for Sally Townsend, the daughter of a Patriot, while occupying her home which is now Raynham Hall Museum. Mort's signing will be just a block from where this event took place, at Long Island Picture Frame and Art Gallery.

Sally's Valentine and other prints by Mort will be available for purchase on site, in a selection of sizes – framed and unframed. We hope you can join us for this special event!

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Raynham Hall Museum.

Meet Mort Künstler in Gettysburg November 7th

Saturday, November 7, 2015
10:30am - 3:30pm
King James Galleries of Gettysburg 
15 Baltimore Street Gettysburg, PA
For information: 855-855-1863

Mort will be signing the Official 2015 Annual Snow Print: "The Winds of Change."

When searching for a defining moment of the Revolution, Mort always thinks of George Washington at Valley Forge. This beautiful painting is the result of on-site research at Valley Forge National Historical Park. Friedrich Steuben, the new inspector general of the army, arrived at Valley Forge on February 23rd. He drew up and enforced a new manual of drill and training for the entire Continental army. By the time they left in June, they were smarter and better disciplined than ever before. This painting shows Steuben on foot talking with Washington, who has ridden up to see how the drilling of the troops is going.

Until now, this painting has only been reproduced in his book, The New Nation: The Creation of the United States in Paintings and Eyewitness Accounts, and his 2014 New Nation calendar.

The Making of a Masterpiece: Winds of Change Phase 5

Winds of Change

Washington at Valley Forge, March 4, 1778

I have used the light streak of the setting sun to create a maximum of contrast against the black of Washington’s hat to take the eye to the center of interest, George Washington. The line-up of the troops behind von Steuben forms a visual arrow with the point leading the eye to Washington, as does the broken limb in the right foreground. In the far background can be seen the stumps of all the trees needed to build the cabin city, as well as heat it.    – Mort Künstler

Mort’s depiction of Washington is in keeping with the personal observations of his peers. Thomas Jefferson described him on a horse as follows: "His person, you know, was fine, his stature exactly what one would wish, his deportment easy, erect, and noble. He was the best horseman of his age and the most graceful figure that could be seen on horseback."

This limited edition print is now available for purchase: http://bit.ly/1Lh3loL

The Making of a Masterpiece: Winds of Change Phase 4

Winds of Change

Washington at Valley Forge, March 4, 1778

The scene shows von Steuben, who is on foot, talking with Washington, who has ridden up to see how the drilling of the troops is going. No more than twenty-five or thirty men could be drilled at any one time. The troops, including Washington’s Life Guards, wait at ease. Alexander Hamilton, the next most prominent rider under the flags and immediately in back of Washington, is easily recognized – his picture is on the $10 bill.     – Mort Künstler

Mort has painted all the figures and some of the flags. After painting the flags above the troops on the left, and the foreground, the painting will be complete.

The Making of a Masterpiece: Winds of Change Phase 3

Winds of Change

Washington at Valley Forge, March 4, 1778

In the winter of 1777-78 Valley Forge was the fifth largest city in what was then the United Colonies. I realized that I could show the enormous size of the encampment, and the hardship the men endured, by showing as much of the cabins as possible. I was also able to get in a construction scene in the middle ground to the immediate right of the General’s entourage. Part of the crew warms up around a fire. Behind them, in the background near the cabins, is the regimental standard of the Pennsylvania regiment present at Valley Forge during that epic winter of hardship.     – Mort Künstler

Although the majority of the painting needs to be completed, you can see in this small detail a large number of cabins, as well as a group of soldiers warming themselves by a fire.

The Making of a Masterpiece: The Winds of Change Phase 2

Winds of Change
Washington at Valley Forge, March 4, 1778

After reading whatever I could in advance, I visited Valley Forge National Historical Park and had a tour of all the pertinent sites with its then chief historian, Dona McDermott. I examined all previous art that had been done of Washington at Valley Forge and realized no one had ever done one painting showing Washington, Von Steuben, Lafayette, and Alexander Hamilton all at the same time. I also wanted to be able to show snow on the ground. When I learned that von Steuben arrived on February 23^rd, and there was a heavy snowfall on March 3^rd, I had my time frame for the painting.      – Mort Künstler

You can see what the feel of the painting will be after Mort has painted the sky. When completed, you will see that he used the light streak of the setting sun to create a contrast against the center of interest, George Washington.

The Making of a Masterpiece: Winds of Change Phase 1

Winds of Change
Washington at Valley Forge, March 4, 1778

When searching for a defining moment of the Revolution, I always think of Washington at Valley Forge. I had painted the Father of our Country a number of times, but never as a major oil painting at that time of our nation’s War of Independence. Finally the opportunity came when a good friend of mine wanted to know if I would be interested in painting George Washington. His only stipulation was that it be colorful. I leapt at the chance. – Mort Künstler

Mort draws preliminary sketches in order to come up with his concept, the right angle, perspective, etc. After Mort has settled on the composition, he draws a final charcoal sketch on a piece of brown paper to help him indicate lighting effects (top). Take note of the grid he has drawn on the sketch in order to help him transfer the sketch directly onto the canvas (bottom).

Introducing LaGrange vs. LaGrange, Künstler's Final Civil War Release

Here is the beautiful finished painting, LaGrange vs. LaGrange. Thanks to these strong and determined women, the Union army agreed to spare the town and the women agreed to give the soldiers dinner. What an assortment of armed women the 2nd Brig. 1st Div. encountered. Although the women were outgunned and outnumbered, the Colonel complimented them on “their fearless spirit and fine martial air.” What a beautiful painting to finish up Mort’s Civil War career. It’s also fascinating to reflect on the fact that this all took place after the surrender at Appomattox because word had not reached everyone the war was over.

Click here to read more and to purchase Limited Edition Artist's Proof Giclées.

The Making of a Masterpiece: LaGrange vs. LaGrange Phase 4

Here you can see that Mort has painted Union Colonel Oscar H. LaGrange. What an incredible coincidence that the Union officer had the same last name as the town! Mort has also begun to paint the “Nancy Harts”. Note the Confederate prisoners on the far left.

The Making of a Masterpiece: LaGrange vs. LaGrange Phase 3

Mort has begun to paint the Union army that marched toward LaGrange.

The Making of a Masterpiece: LaGrange vs. LaGrange Phase 2

Here you can see Mort has painted the sky and the beginning of the Yancey-Smith House in the background. Look how different the painting looks once Mort painted the flags!