Area man’s artwork on magazine’s cover
George Washington and Christopher Gist are gracing the cover of the July/August issue of “Muzzleloader’ magazine, thanks to the work of historical artist Robert Adamovich. “I was stunned. Webster doesn’t give you quite the adjectives for describing what I felt,’ Adamovich, 54, said with a smile about this achievement during a recent interview at his home on Jumonville Road in North Union Township.
The cover is a detail of a limited edition print by Adamovich, titled “A Map of the Virginia Regiment’s Journ’y to Redstone from Meadows.’
A description furnished by Adamovich reads: “This print shows the wilderness area from the Great Meadows to Mr. Gist’s and beyond. It also indicates the locations of the ‘Rock, Camp of Indians’ and the ‘Gloomy Hollow.’ Early in the morning of May 27, 1754, frontiersman Christopher Gist arrived at the Great Meadows and informed George Washington of a detachment of 50 French soldiers that had gone to his plantation the day before, and they would have killed a cow and broken everything in his house had it not been for two Indians he had left to guard his settlement. Washington now knew the French were nearby. Little did Washington, Gist and the French know the events that would occur the following day change the world forever.’
The image depicts a moment as the British and French vied for control of the North America. It is the day before the skirmish at Jumonville Glen between the Virginians, under Washington, assisted by Tanacharison, a Seneca chief known as the Half King, and the French, commanded by Joseph Coulon de Villiers, Sieur de Jumonville. Ten French were killed in the skirmish, including Jumonville; one was wounded and 21 were made prisoner while one escaped to Fort Duquesne. Under Washington, one man was killed and two wounded. Expecting retaliation from the French, Washington and his men built Fort Necessity in Great Meadows. Washington received reinforcements that included a company of regular British troops before a battle was fought at Fort Necessity on July 3, but the conflict ended with Washington’s surrender. These events were the start of the French and Indian War.
Interviewed by phone from his Texas office, Bill Scurlock, editor in chief of “Muzzleloader,’ said of Adamovich’s work, “The historical significance is key to our readers. We have a lot of readers who are highly interested in the French and Indian War – many of them are re-enactors. The subject was good and right up our alley. The artwork itself was unique – something different.’
Adamovich noted that “Muzzleloader’ usually selects paintings for its covers, including the work of local artists Robert Griffing of Gibsonia and John Buxton of Allison Park, who both paint 18th century history that includes the French and Indian War.
But Adamovich’s “Journ’y to Redstone from Meadows’ uses a unique pen-and-ink technique that uses gray tones influenced by the style of Thomas Hovenden’s “The Last Moments of John Brown.’ Adamovich mixed his own inks and used “homemade charcoal from our embers from the fire the night before.’ He handcrafts his own pen nibs and holders, giving a line pattern that is unique. “It’s an unforgiving form of art if you don’t practice and get the correct amount of ink on paper. It can spread and amount to horrendous mistakes. Your attention has to be there all the time.’
It’s painstaking. Adamovich noted it took five hours to create Gist’s right hand, a piece that measures one-fourth by one-half inch.
The artist added little imperfections on purpose, putting a few dots off the drawing surface because in the original etching process, the plate would be removed from the paper and there might be an ink splatter.
The artwork also is filled with details. For example, Adamovich said the tree the men stand beside is white oak, symbolizing the trees that were said to have been used to build Fort Necessity. Adamovich also pays homage to the British and French by having Washington carry a British Brown Bess and Gist a French Fusil – muskets of the period. Gist is outfitted as a frontiersman, with a powder horn and hunting pouch. Washington is dressed as an officer of the Virginia Regiment, but not as a full colonel because he received that promotion in the field.
For models, Adamovich used Joseph Sefcheck of Latrobe as Gist and Ron White of West Brownsville as Washington. Adamovich said the first time he saw White at Nemacolin Castle in Brownsville, he was immediately struck by his likeness to Washington.
Adamovich said, “Everyone seems to concur when they see a photograph – particularly a profile of Ron. They’re amazed because they’re finally visualizing what Washington may have looked like as a young man.’
He continued, “I was at Perryopolis at Pioneer Days the first time I saw Joe Sefcheck dressed as a buckskinner with fringes – he was as chiseled as a frontiersmen walking through the woods. Realizing I had already found a perfect George Washington, I was looking for the perfect Christopher Gist. Looking at photographs I had taken, I said I think I got him.’
Adamovich suggested White and Sefcheck for a photo session that would accompany an article he wrote for a history column called “Historically Speaking’ he previously did for the Herald-Standard. He also was creator and host of “Historically Speaking with Robert Adamovich’ that is broadcast on HSTV.
Married with two daughters, Adamovich is owner of Adamovich Design, a comprehensive design service specializing in hand-drawn residential, light commercial and landscape designs as well as historical preservation and restoration. He long has been interested in history and has worked as an historical artist, graphic artist, historical lecturer and instructor at Touchstone Center for the Arts in Farmington. In addition, his biography notes his affiliations with organizations, including Braddock Road Preservation Association, Ligonier Valley Historical Society, Fort Pitt Associates, National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Rindfuss Museum at Jumonville. Adamovich is a graduate of Penn State and West Virginia universities.
His additional interests include historical research, collecting and building historically accurate long guns and accouterments, building 18th century furniture and volunteer work for historical societies and organizations.
Adamovich was writing a 2004 column for the Herald-Standard about Washington’s 1753 journey with Gist to Fort LeBoeuf when the photograph of White and Sefcheck was taken. Adamovich said photographs usually don’t inspire him but liked this one and decided to create art related to the 1754 event. He charted the land 18th-century style, walking with a compass and a field glass.
Completed in late 2004, the artwork was well-received in sales and people suggested Adamovich send it to “Muzzleloader’ magazine, which includes articles on hunting, shooting, gunsmithing, living history, American history and book and product reviews.
“You can’t get any better than ‘Muzzleloader.’ This is it,’ said Adamovich.
He talked to Scurlock, saying he would send a print and noted, “If you like it, you can keep it. If you consider it for anything, I’d be most grateful. If you don’t like it, I hear tell paper starts a good fire. It’s your choice.’
Scurlock liked the artwork and played with it, using a detail of it for the cover and making it sepia tone. The artwork with a black background and red “Muzzleloader’ title jumps out.
Scurlock said, “We thought it was something interesting and would have a good impact.’
Adamovich said of the cover, “It really blew me away. Since Bill has set the tone for what the cover of ‘Muzzleloader’ is and wasn’t reluctant to a totally new and bold approach, I commend him.’
The cover already is garnering attention, including a letter Adamovich received from a reader in Boise, Idaho, who commended his work but wanted to know the story behind the drawing.
“I’m interested because my great-great-great-great-grandfather Richard Ashcraft was an Indian scout in that area of Pennsylvania and lived at ‘Old Redstone Fort’ and later lived with his other brothers in what later became Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. They had ‘Ashcraft’s Fort’ located there,’ wrote Len Tumidalsky, noting his interest in 18th century history and family genealogy, and also drawing an impressive sketch of a frontiersman on the back of the envelope.
Adamovich noted he pays attention to detail in his work to satisfy himself, but was pleased the effort touched someone from across the nation: “Stunned is not the word to describe how artwork can do this.’
For those who are interested in Adamovich, the artist noted he will be mentioned in an upcoming regular feature of “Muzzleloader’ called “Prime Possibles.’ The July/August edition also carries an ad for Adamovich’s work on page 20.
Adamovich also hopes to submit more works to “Muzzleloader.’ He is now working on a series of artwork that depicts 18th-century firearms and historical events that have occurred no more than a muzzle shot from his own back yard.
For more information on Adamovich’s art, call 724-439-3711.
For more information about “Muzzleloader’ magazine, visit the Web site at www.muzzleloadermag.com.