Celebrating Father's Day: The Father's of Art

With upcoming Father's Day in mind, I began to think about certain famous artists, fathers, and art. That led me to thinking about the fathers of the Art world. I asked myself, what does it mean to be both a father and the father of an art movement or a unique style? What is it like to have sons and daughters who want to be just like their fathers or have others who wish to be like you?

My father was a carpenter. As I grew, I remember how I would follow him and watch as he worked. I remember the scent of fresh pine from the wood shavings or the sound of chisel, hammer, and nail. I particularly adored the summers when I was allowed to go with him and work. He would ask me to fetch his hammer or level throughout the day, pick up a fallen
nail, or bring him his measuring tape, and I loved being his little helper.

I admired my dad then, and still do, for the job he did and everything that I learned while following him. Even today, I'm pretty comfortable around a SKIL saw, thanks to what he taught me. And while I did not become a carpenter, the lessons he taught me gave me enough knowledge that I could have become one if I had wanted to.
Instead, it turned out that I was meant to be an artist because that is what indeed called me and captured my passion. I feel confident that many of the past Fathers of Art undoubtedly shared the same compulsion and calling to create, whether by chance, accident, or purpose.

I decided that I wanted to find and showcase these Father artists that shared this awareness, passion, and drive to be artists. Many different styles of art throughout history could be considered Fathers. Famous artists are often referred to as The Father of Impressionism, the Father of Art Deco, The Father of Pop Art, and so many more examples. While art styles and techniques are constantly evolving and being invented, many artists have existed that either accidentally or purposefully copied other inventors and innovators. Still, few can be genuinely considered 'Fathers' of art. In that sense, I wanted to look at and pay tribute to those genuine Art Dads and their art-world-changing styles.

Claude Monet, Father of Impressionism


Pablo Picasso, Father of Cubism


Edvard Munch, Father of Expressionism


Erté, Father of Art Deco


Andy Warhol, Father of Pop Art


Of course, I can't include all of the famous groundbreaking artists that were Fathers of Art in one place. Still, I feel this list shares one of the crucial ideas of how important it is to continue our journey of discovery and creativity within art.

Sharing, discussing, and learning about art, gives us as artists inspiration to create, explore, learn, and experiment with mediums and techniques, which helps grow our skills. Like an art supply store, it also gives us at Cheap Joe's the chance to research the fresh, new, and exciting ways artists are experimenting, which leads us to know what supplies to provide for our artists. Sometimes lost art techniques become rediscovered, or new uses for current methods develop. By studying what we know and what we are learning together, both artists and art supply stores can support one another in creativity.

I often wonder what the future will hold for art and cannot wait to see the materials and tools the next generation will have to create with. Like you, I am excited to discover the possibilities. Perhaps someday, we will be able to play with instant-drying oil paints, acrylic paints that remain wet until we want them and are ready to dry, and brushes that never fray or wear out.

I think of what the first cave dwellers had on hand to create with and envision what they would think of the advancements we've made through the millennia. I wonder what they would think of Derwent and Prismacolor changing the way pencil crayons could be used, turning them into materials that can be dissolved in water and turned into watercolor paints.

Incredibly, it can take only one imaginative and curious mind with the idea that can soon turn them into a future Mother or Father of an entire art movement. The anticipation keeps me and us at Cheap Joe's continuously striving to find the best and more unique art supplies to add to our expanding inventory.

We hope you always keep painting, drawing, inking, and creating. We hope that together, we can keep dreaming of new and exciting art forms in the future. And don't forget this Father's Day; let your dad know how special he is to you and all that you learned from him over the years.

We wish you a happy Father's Day, from our family to yours!