Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-06-11
FROM A POOR BOY
TO A CHAIR OF ART.
How Professor Evans Became In
structOr Of Art at the
University
MANY OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME
Story of How He Was Once Licked
By His Teacher Prof Samuel
Thurman of Provo.

- ONSPICUOuS among tho Utah
artists whose work Is becoming
known for it's merit Is Edwin
Evans who holds the chair Of art
at the University Of Utah. His class is
the largest student nrt body in the
state, and It's progress has been such
that art viii have a stronger position IN
the institution than II has ever occu-
pied IN the past Gradually II mas
been built up under Mr. Evans per-
sonal direction Tor the last i've years
until the present state OF efficiency has
been reached. Its influence on the fu-
ture of local art should be iar-eNtend-
ing. as there are not few OF his stu
dents VINO biu fair TO take strong posi-
lions I'm their particular line,
The experience Ui AIR, Evans In at
taining the place he now holds has not
been without interesting incident nor
devoid of persistent and heroic en-
deavor While his course has always
been upward II has NOT always been
FAST nol has it been smooth and easy.
ON the contrary lac, has nad his sun
light ob'curcd hy shaduW aud his prog
icss impeded by obstacles that Mould
have discouraged any man NOT an art
list by nature AND how many are
there In this world with the paCience
and persiGtency Of The ordinary artist?
Mr. Evans tells alp interesting story
OF how one OF his teachers an school
tried to "driye art CUt oi him instead
OF Encouraging MIN dong the road that
nature had evidently Intended him to
uuvel whether he wanted to or not
That teacher, too, was one he loved,
and one for whom he htill has a great
dual Of admiration Mr. Evans says:
"a r,.H D D. tt.ar I.a,r
ings. side by side, az Nc were fellow
students. There were times when we
should have been at other studies but
we liked ava IN spite of ourselves though
! cannot say that our earliest efforts
were ycr,' artistic Well one day we
were ara wing pictures out of time and
place, other students peeped over our
shOuldels aud commenced 10 litter
HurWood and myself both joined IN
me laugh. Then our Instructor looked
around II was not difficult for him
To- fasten the responsibility where it
belonged. he had been through the
experience before. Bat HarWood he'd
got 10 be a pretty good actor lie
| could turn from the gay to the grave
n, t,vinkling and he did so this day,
| / couldn't. The laugh was ON and It
! remained on until IN" professor took
| il on, witch he did quickly aud efiec-
| tually While HarWoOd escaped punish
mont
what happened? We'll / don't
mind telling YOU" continued Mr. Evans
that ! was licked To turn. II waS
| the hardest licking ! ever had I'm my
| life And who do you think the man
was who gave It TO me! Well, I don't
mind telling YOU that either. II was
! Sam Thurman Of Provo aud 1t was at
Nfft I IL. .1NNL
But" and Mr. Evans again laughed
outright, II didn't stop drawing
was Just more careful, and | learned
a lesson After that when ! drew pie
lures and Sans attention was turned
In my direction | did what Harwoud
did stopped smiling and got busy.
seriously busy and thus my drawing
went ON without further interruption.
In course o. time Nj. Evans satisfied
the ambition every young American
artist asplres to, that Of u course in
the Julian academy OF Paris. He got
honorable mention for his work and
was known as a conscientious and cap
able student, He enjoys the dlstinc-
ton Of giving broad treatment to all
Of his subjects and especially delights
in life study and figure painting though
he also eXcels In landscape and other
similar work, Some of his pictures are
widely known, among them his famous
Harvest Scene" which was on exhi-
btion at the Columbian exposition in
Chicago 10 years ago IL attracted the
attention of art conniseurs OF ability,
But that is not his only work OF merit,
He has had many others that would
be more than an ornament in the best
of art collections. Some OF them have
been prize winners and others have
found ready sale at home and else
where. His productions are notable
for their brllliancy. for their sunlight
and soft shadows. While Mr.. Evans
has given nearly the whole Of his time
during the past year TO his University
duties he has nevertheless found some
| time for work In his own private studio
and has but recently finished some ex-
cellent pictures, one Of which Is the
Jordan river scene reproduced on this
page. For the summer months he has
other scenes in prospect that promise
well.