Frank Lucien Heath was born near Salem, OR on July 3, 1857.
In 1866 Heath moved with his family to Santa Cruz, California where he remained. His father, Lucien Heath, was president of the County Bank of Santa Cruz and was twice elected to the California State Legislature.
The younger Heath showed artistic talent at an early age and studied art in San Francisco at the School of Design under Raymond Yelland, whose influence was apparent in Heath’s realistically depicted works. Following graduation from that school, he opened a studio in San Francisco where he painted and exhibited for 11 years before returning to Santa Cruz in 1885.
In 1887 he travelled to the east and visited Mt. Desert, Cape Cod, Gloucester, the White Mountains, Plattsburgh, the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain, Chateaugay Lake, Lake Placid, Keene Valley, Lake George, and Niagara Falls. He made 32 oil and pencil sketches that were used for later studio paintings. The White Mountain sketches had titles of Franconia Notch, Crawford Notch, Mt. Willard, and the Saco river at North Conway.
From his studio on Beach Hill overlooking the bay, he painted many marines and landscape scenes. He took his many students on painting excursions. This group of artists was known as the Jolly Daubers and was the forerunner of the Santa Cruz Art League, which Heath established with Margaret Rogers in 1919 and served as its first president.
Heath was active in Santa Cruz until his death there on April 21, 1921. Realistically depicted, his works show the influence of Yelland.
Exhibitions
Exh: Calif. State Fair, 1883-99; Mechanics Institute (SF), 1883-93; Worlds Columbian Expo (Chicago), 1893; Louisiana Purchase Expo (St Louis), 1904.
Collections
Society of California Pioneers; Yosemite Museum; First Methodist Church (Santa Cruz); Santa Cruz Public Library; San Diego Historical Society. The Golden Era, June 1885; Art and Artists in Santa Cruz cat.; Western Woman, vol. 13, 1949; Santa Cruz News, 4-21-1921 and SF Chronicle, 4-22-1921 (obits).
Signature
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- 1889
Reference
Crocker Art Museum