NEWS:

Knecht’s most recent painting depicts the Signing of the American Constitution

Requiring over 16 months of historical research and painting the original picture measures 60 by 104 inches. Commissioned by Hillsdale College it has been installed in the permanent collection of the Allan P. Kirby Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington DC.

Knecht featured in Two Artist Magazines

The artist’s painting studio and the Constitution painting are featured prominently in the Fall 2010 issue of American Artist Studios magazine.
> View Knecht's Online Video Feature

Other recent magazine appearances of his work include the May-June 2010 issue of International Artist magazine including his egg tempera painting, The Woodcutter. This work was awarded First Place Watermedia in the 2009 Members Only Competition of the Portrait Society of America. It was also featured in the summer issue of the PSOA Journal.

Knecht Artwork in New Edition of Drawing Text

Two of Knecht's egg tempera paintings, "The Retreat of Winter" and "Leila's Kitchen" have been selected by artist/auther Brian Curtis for the second edition of his book Drawing from Observation: An Introduction to Perceptual Drawing forthcoming from McGraw Hill. Knecht's paintings are included in the chapter on composition as a positive demonstration of avoiding centering of focal point. Brian Curtis chairs the Drawing Program in the Art Department of the University of Miami, in Florida where he has taught continuously since 1985.

Like Sam Knecht, Brian Curtis is a strong advocate for revival of representational painting in the nation's culture.

Artists and Artisans of Michigan

Kennedy Publications of Virginia

Sam Knecht's work has been given awards and selected for publication in the forthcoming book "Artists and Artisans of Michigan" published by Kennedy Publications of Virginia. His painting "Amelia's Quilt" earned First Place in Watercolor, and the painting "Decrescendo" was awarded Honorable Mention. Both images are in the portrait gallery of this site.

Construction Complete
on new Knecht Studio

Hillsdale, MI

Caulkins Construction finished work on Sam Knecht’s new studio attached to the Knecht residence in Hillsdale. Taking six months to build, the studio features optimal north lighting, sky lights, and an operating fieldstone fireplace. Special care was taken to design the structure to be compatible with the 1860s Gothic Revival style of the Knecht home.

Involving about 600 square feet of space, the studio has ample workspace, track lighting, room for comfortable guest seating, plumbing for cleanup, location for large drawing table, ample storage, and plenty of wall space for showing work.

“This has been a dream project,” remarks Knecht of the studio. “In part, it is an homage to my grandfather who first got me interested in art. A serious amateur painter, John Knecht Sr. built his own studio, complete with working fireplace. “I loved visiting my grandfather in his studio, smelling the oil paint, and being entranced by the magic of the brush. Part of his spirit lives on in this new studio.” >View the Studio

COLLECTIONS:

• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
• Michigan Supreme Court, Lansing, Michigan
• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan
• Hillsdale College
• Metropolitan Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• K-Mart World Headquarters, Troy, Michigan
• Hillsdale Community Health Center, Hillsdale, Michigan
• Villa Corsi-Salviati, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
• Campus Inn, Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Spring Arbor College, Spring Arbor, Michigan

REVIEWS:

Mila Andre in the New York Daily News

"Romantic Realism: Visions of Values is like a breath of fresh air… Take, for example, the egg tempera by Samuel Knecht, Morning Shadows, whose central "character" is a wicker rocking chair leaning against a tree that invites the viewer to just sit down, relax, and enjoy the surroundings."