This Putt is a Stroke of Genius
When I put my request on Facebook for my friends to send me the names of their favorite outdoor artists, Laurie Lee Dovey sent me one of hers. Being one of my writing mentors, and in all of the years I have known her, L.L.D. has never steered me wrong. Again, she came through when she gave me Gerry Putt’s name. There are so many fantastic artists it is hard to choose, but Gerry surely stands out as one of the best.
After researching him a little, I noticed his studio is only about 90 minutes from my home. Since I have never been to Pennsylvania, what is a traveling gal to do? Exactly, a road trip!
I contacted Gerry and we set a day I could go visit he and his wife Kathy. My boyfriend Bo was able to go with me and we set out on the road to Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. Traveling on Highway 15, I was able to get a good look at that part of Pennsylvania and it is a beautiful state for sure. We turned off of Hwy 15 on to Route 74 and meandered through the farm country and lots of corn fields.
I had no idea what to expect from Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. The area is so pretty and calming, seemingly to rise out of the middle of the lush, rolling farmland. We were early so headed into the quaint, but modern coffee shop of An old Victorian style home that was bustling with people both inside and out, enjoying their breakfast. Bo stayed at the coffee shop in town to let me have my time with Gerry and his wife Kathy.
At the appointed time, I went to the studio and met with this sweet couple, with whom I felt a fast friendship forming. His studio was packed with beautiful paintings, awards and quite a few memories. I sat in a comfy rocking chair and settled in for a chat with this talented man and his lovely wife.
Gerry is the youngest of 6 kids raised in Boiling Springs by his single mother in a lovely old, stone house across the street from Children’s Lake in the center of town. He wasn’t allowed to have a pet dog as a child, but one day a duck followed him home and well, then he had a pet duck named Bernard. He was also able to observe Bernard and the other ducks in the lake and began to draw what he saw. As a child his artistic talent was evident. Teachers and family noticed and encouraged him.
Through the 70’s as he worked at the Carlisle, PA Tire Plant, he focused on growing his talent and began entering art competitions. I asked him where he went to art school and was stunned to hear, “I answered an ad asking me to send in a copy of a pirate I saw in a magazine.”
Oh my gosh! When he said that, my mind went straight back to my own childhood! I could see that pirate and the funny little turtle pictures in my memory from the Art Instruction Schools magazine ads. If you are over 50 you know what I am talking about. I tried to draw both of them several times when I was a kid and my drawings didn’t even resemble the pictures! Thanks to that little ad, my dreams of being a famous artist were crushed. Gerry, however, flourished in spite of taking only two Art Instruction School correspondence modules.
In 1979, he quit the tire factory and concentrated on becoming a full-time artist. He opened up his own studio and proceeded to promote his wildlife paintings through a variety of art shows. His paintings are all animals and birds in natural settings of forests, mountains, streams, plains, grassy fields, lakes and rivers. Quite a few are of the Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania area. Each piece is detailed, creative, and so life-like they look better than any photograph.
He and Kathy load up their vehicle many times a year and travel to art shows throughout Pennsylvania and neighboring states. The Covid-19 pandemic has curtailed much of that for 2020, but he hopes to get back on the road next year.
One dream Gerry had when he started out, was to have one of his paintings be chosen for the cover of the Pennsylvania Game News™ magazine. His artistic mentor, Ned Smith, had done it for years. Then finally for a 1981 issue, Gerry was chosen. He is proud of that first one and has progressed to do many more covers and illustrations for the publication and other magazines. He has painted almost as many Pennsylvania Game Newsä covers as Ned had and plans to do many more!
Gerry also has painted 13 Pennsylvania Duck Stamp paintings, the most of any artist including the 2020 winner Middle Creek Migrants. His paintings have been selected for several other States and has repeatedly been in the top 10 for the coveted Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, more commonly known as the Federal Duck Stamp.
The Duck Stamp is the stamp hunters must purchase for their hunting licenses. The proceeds go to help acquire and protect wetland habitat and purchase conservation easements for the National Wildlife Refuge system. When they become available, many people collect the prints after the winner is chosen. Gerry s recently sent in his entry for the 2021 Federal stamp so we will keep our fingers crossed for him!
I took a look at the numerous awards and plaques along his studio walls. Gerry is humbled and grateful for each. While I was writing this article, Gerry got word that he was awarded the Working Together for Wildlife art competition for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Proceeds from the limited-edition prints are sold by the PA Game Commission to help finance wildlife research and management programs in the Commonwealth.
Gerry takes his role in furthering conservation seriously. He has donated artwork to many conservation organizations for their fundraising banquets; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy and many more who have raised thousands of dollars with Gerry’s generous donations.
Bo and I had a fantastic day with Gerry and Kathy and learned so much about Boiling Springs. We were treated to a personal, guided tour of the tranquil, picturesque town. We were able to look around the river where he spent his childhood, and several other places including the iron mill and a grand home that was part of the Underground Railroad. We learned why Boiling Springs got its name, while visiting “The Bubble.”
The name comes from the multiple artesian springs that bubble up from the ground. They aren’t hot springs, but icy cold yet they never freeze over. I guess naming Boiling Springs, Icy Cold Springs didn’t thrill the city fathers. The rivers tributaries and lake are crystal clear and beaming with trout and variety of ducks.
Boiling Springs is close to the halfway mark on the Appalachian Trail and has a trail post office where hikers can receive their mail while on the trail. The A.T. is on my bucket list for hiking, so I can see making another trip there on foot.
Please do yourself a favor and take a good look at www.GeraldPuttArt.com and treat yourself to the beauty he captures so perfectly. If you are ever fortunate to see his gorgeous work in person then you will indeed be blessed.
You can find more about Boiling Springs, on my blog including photos from our tour of the mill. You will also be rewarded by touring the amazing Art Studio, Village Artisans, Kathy rightly insisted we go to! Please visit www.TheAdventuredLife.com or see me on IG:@theadventuredlife, Twitter:@adventured_life, Facebook: @TheAdventuredLife
Laurie Lee Dovey, I owe you lunch!