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12/22/2007
H. Eric Van Leer
Leo Blake of Cheshire, Massachusetts
Leo Blake was my next door neighbor on Outlook Av, Cheshire, Mass with the appalachian trail in our back yard and beautiful landscapes all around us. While I was just a young boy, I recall Mr. Blake and his art with fond memories. It is interesting to find the kind words from my childhood friend and neighbor, Jeff Newton on this site. He too lived on Outlook Av, Cheshire, MA!!!
11/04/2006
Jack Girard
Fond memories
When Leo Blake moved to Berkshire, MA. in 1933 and opened his Blake Studios Summer School (often for overworked and overextended businessmen), he often took his students across the valley to a field on my father's farm to paint scenes overlooking the lake. On occasion, while his students painted what they saw, (according to my Dad's own testimony ) Leo painted my Dad as he was plowing his fields. I have reason to believe the painting "The Plow Team" sold by Skinner, Inc. in 1996 may very well have been Leo's capture of my Dad at work. That one field was very shallow, with ledge near the surface - so my Dad plowed it even in the '30s with a horse drawn plow - which didn't go as deep as plows behind tractors. I met Leo in the 60s and continued our families' friendship, extending it somewhat while also performing "contracted services" for him. Leo claimed that he never painted objects, but rather the light as it reflected off them - definitely a quality of Impressionist painters. Leo's "artist's EYE" was a determining factor in everything he saw or did - even unto his concepts of "landscaping". Our family's interaction with him and his wife Ingrid continued even after his death in 1976. His aesthetic insight has had a profound effect on everything I've done since we first met. I try to view all of my work with that same sense of aesthetic sensitivity. Like Jeff Newton, I feel honored to have met and learned from Leo, and cherish the conversations and experiences we shared.
12/27/2003
Jeff Newton
Growing up with Mr. Blake
My fondest memories of childhood were of Mr. & Mrs. Blake in Cheshire Ma. I cut grass, shovled snow, and spent hours talking with them both as a very young boy. They both always treated me with the respect of an adult, never talking down to me and always eager to expand my world with a new picture. I was never shown more than 1 or 2 different paintings at a time. I was never aware of this as a child but later in life grew to understand (I think) why this was done. Leo B. Blake and his wife were the nicest most interesting neighbors a boy could have. To them I say "THANK YOU" I never got to say this to them as an adult so I do it now to the world. These were two outstanding people, and the world would be a far better place with more people like them.
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