A Visit with Evelyn Payne Hatcher, Daughter of Edgar and Elsie Payne

Edgar Payne Oaks and Sycamores, 1922 Oil on Canvas 24” x 28”

by Eric Merrell

A few years ago during my teen years while studying with a painting instructor, I was introduced to Edgar Payne’s 1941 book, Composition of Outdoor Painting. The book has long been a primer for art students, and the famous black and white compositional studies are made further succinct and elegant with Mr.Payne’s accompanying explanations. These instructional examples emphasize the importance of arranging shapes and composition in a picture. As a young art student, this book was instrumental to my development, and although I did not own an actual copy, I kept a photocopied packet of the illustrations. So, this January, when the California Art Club was looking for an adventurous soul to travel to Minnesota and interview Evelyn Payne Hatcher, the daughter of celebrated California artists, Edgar (1883­1947) and Elsie (1884­1971) Payne, I jumped at the chance.

The plane landed in Minneapolis at the early hour of 6:00 am, and I exited carrying a large winter coat over my arm. (My Minnesotan grandparents’ had rightly warned this Southern Californian that wearing shorts just wouldn’t do in the Midwestern winter season.) A little bewildered for lack of sleep, I arrived just in time for breakfast at my grandparents’ house where I planned to stay. That afternoon, I contacted Evelyn Hatcher to arrange a private meeting for the following day. I was eagerly ready for her, with pages of questions.

When I stood at Mrs. Hatcher’s front door, I was mentally sorting out the many questions I had prepared for her. She answered the door with a very welcoming smile, and I was quickly put at ease. The prairie home was warm and comfortable with sensible furnishings. It was exciting to see that most rooms were filled with memories of her parents, including much of their art.

Mrs. Hatcher recounted her unique life with the enthusiasm of a young girl. In fact, this interview took place just short of her 87th birthday. During her childhood, Evelyn had the chance to paint on the many trips she took with her parents. Her early exposure to art and various cultures later led to her becoming a specialist in American Indian art, particularly that of the Navaho tribe. She taught a course entitled “Anthropology in Art,” both at St. Cloud State College and University of Minnesota, and has written several books on the subject . However, at present she chronicles and documents her parents’ lives. On behalf of the California Art Club’s Historical Department, it was my own personal duty to search through her document s to find anything relevant to the Club’s history. No small task, since the Paynes were both highly prolific in their art, garnering a great amount of publicity. The Paynes, especially Elsie, were extremely active in the California Art Club. Plunging into boxes, I sorted through pamphlets, old Gold Medal catalogues, and various exhibition brochures. But what was most fascinating to me was listening to Mrs. Hatcher’s personal reminiscences.

In 1915, when she was just a year old, Evelyn was taken along on a painting trip to Santa Cruz Island, located just off the coast of Santa Barbara. The outing, which included family friend and Chicago artist Irwin Myers, was organized because Edgar wanted to paint the island’s big caves. The boats that went to and from Santa Cruz ran only once a week. However, after they were dropped off and had stayed for a week, a powerful storm prevented them from returning as scheduled. The painting party was marooned for two weeks! Extending rations, Evelyn was fed canned milk, while everyone else subsisted on canned beans.

Young Evelyn also accompanied her family on several trips to the Sierras. The journey across the Mojave Desert took three days. The family traveled during the summer months to avoid severe winter weather. They camped out on the Tioga Pass route, as Evelyn recalls, “...until the tobacco ran out!” On these paint-outs, family life continued as usual. Elsie would cook meals over a fire (dinner on the first nights would be potato soup), look after Evelyn who was only a toddler, and do a variety of camp chores. Unfortunately, performing these tasks meant that Elsie had less time for painting. One colorful detail Evelyn recalls is that on her first trip with her parents, in 1918, the Paynes shoved sagebrush underneath the wheels of their parked car to help keep their transportation from rolling away in the steep terrain.

Eric Merrell with Evelyn Payne Hatcher at her home in Minnesota. Painting by Edgar Payne in the background.

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