Born February 27, 1905, Everard Hinrichs – who later changed his name to Eric Sloane – was raised in a wealthy household to parents he describes as “…harboring the least artistic tastes”. The family summered on Halsey Island, Lake Hopatcong (New Jersey), and it seems clear that it was there that Eric’s artistic intuition began to flourish.

Eric’s sister Dorothy recalled Everard as “…mischievous and careless with his possessions (his own and other’s), but in the end he was lovable and always eager to please”.
It would seem that a future of familial wealth and relative leisure would grace George Jr., Everard, and Dorothy, but that was to be an illusion of “The Roaring Twenties” – the Great Depression that followed erased the family fortune, scattering the siblings and leaving Everard destitute.

Eric Sloane (1905-1985) was an American fine artist, illustrator, and author. He is perhaps best known for his lavishly illustrated books on early American life and culture as much as for his paintings of rural America. No matter the subject matter – airplanes, the barns and stone fences of his beloved New England countryside, or the pueblos of New Mexico (for Eric painted them all) – it was always the sky and clouds that were the real subject matter for this self-taught artist. Sloane’s earliest years read like a Horatio Alger piece – born in New York City to wealthy parents who both died when Eric was young, leaving him with a million-dollar inheritance lost subsequently in the Great Depression. He flew with Wiley Post, sold his first “cloudscape” (a term he coined) to Amelia Earhart, created the Hall of Atmosphere for the American Museum of Natural History, and (at age of 71) was asked to paint a 58′ x 75′ mural for the entrance of the soon-to-be-unveiled Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. He worked incredibly hard, becoming an internationally recognized fine artist and best-selling author, all within his lifetime – much of his work devoted to encouraging people to look at the sky.

Very grateful that the state of Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development saw fit to hire Andrew Rowand to be the literal face and spirit of the Eric Sloane Museum. Andrew has worked tirelessly to make the museum a premier destination for visitors to the Kent and Northwestern Connecticut areas. I was able to experience first-hand Andrew’s engagement with museum visitors – his knowledge and enthusiasm makes him an incredible asset to the state.

Also happy to donate a printing block of one of Eric Sloane’s pen and ink illustrations – the one I had was one that the museum did not. With my gratitude to Randy Castellini, a true gentleman and Sloane fan who helped to make this all possible.

Looking forward to the weeks, months, and years to come at the Eric Sloane Museum under Andrew’s leadership. I have no doubt that the visitor experience will be better than ever!

“Noonday” pen and ink illustration by Eric Sloane, N.A.

“Noonday”, pen and ink illustration by Eric Sloane, N.A.

“Gone Fishing” by Eric Sloane, N.A. From the archives, we sold this original pen and ink illustration years ago.

One good gallery poster deserves another…this one from Eric’s show at the Museum of the Southwest in 1980.

We have a gentleman working in the Noah Blake cabin this week on a small project we are very excited about. Something to do with this Eric Sloane drawing – can you guess what it might be?

Over the course of his career, Eric Sloane painted many murals. Quite a few were in private homes, many others were in corporate settings. This photograph was taken by Wil Mauch in 1999/2000 of a Sloane mural in the headquarters of the now defunct International Silver Company in Meriden, Connecticut. Photos from Wil Mauch’s Aware: A Retrospective of the Life and Work of Eric Sloane.

Earth Flight Environment
Eric Sloane, N.A. (1905-1985)
Acrylic on Canvas, 75′ x 58′ 6″

Affixed to the west wall of the Independence Ave. lobby of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. From Wil’s Symbols of American Spirit: 50 Years of the Eric Sloane Museum.