Artistic Training
Harold Neal, Hughie Lee-Smith, Glanton Dowdell, LeRoy Foster, Henri King, and Charles McGee all studied at Detroit’s Society of Arts and Crafts (SAC, now College for Creative Studies). Unlike its competitor, Meinzinger’s art school, SAC welcomed African American students, many of whom, like Neal, paid their tuition with World War II’s GI bill. Training at SAC was grounded in life drawing.
[Society of Arts and Crafts students], Sketchbook, 1948-1953/54
Harold Neal
graphite on paper
Neal Family Collection, Detroit
[Life drawing], Sketchbook, 1948-1953/54
Harold Neal
red chalk on paper
Neal Family Collection, Detroit
[Trumpet and masks], Sketchbook, 1948-1953/54
Harold Neal
watercolor on paper
Neal Family Collection
[Still-life], 1950
Harold Neal
oil on board
C. Neale, Detroit
Society of Arts and Crafts teachers Sarkis Sarkisian and Guy Palazzola favored applying numerous thin layers of paint, which revealed the work’s under layers.
Southeast Corner of my Cell, 1955
Glanton Dowdell
oil on canvas
Donnell Walker, Yeadon, PA
Neal’s time at SAC was sadly marred by the imprisonment of his good friend Glanton Dowdell for an incident that may have happened at a drunken art students’ party. Dowdell continued to paint in prison. This painting was clearly influenced by Cubism.