03 - Harrison Groutage, View of Smithfield 

Harrison Groutage
American, 1925-2013

View of Smithfield
1950
Oil on panel
25.5 x 33.25 inches
Museum Permanent Collection
1984.1868

Harrison Groutage was born in Richmond, Utah, in 1925. He studied at Utah State University and Weber State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a masters in fine arts from University of Utah. From 1952 to 1963, while Groutage did his Post Graduate work, he spent a lot of time not only on his artwork and school but also getting his feet wet with teaching. Groutage was often very popular with his students not only because of his artistic talents but also because he was approachable and witty. He first taught at Snow College from 1952–53. Then Groutage obtained an art position at Utah State University, which he would keep for over 30 years.

He was talented and proficient with different media, including painting, watercolor, oil, acrylic, printmaking and ceramics to name a few. He once said, “One must not be married to one treatment, or one method.”

Whatever the medium, Groutage loved the subject of nature. He stated: “I am a confirmed westerner. While my painting derives its inspiration in fields, streams, mountains, rocks and coasts of the west, I paint mainly in Utah. I respond to the western landscape with its special aspects of form, light and atmosphere.”

The elevated perspective and panoramic view seen in View of Smithfield characterized Groutage’s painting during the last years of his career.