Ramona Vinson
American Artist, 1908 - 2004
What if we were forgotten—our imprint on the world washed away with the tide? What if all that was left in the wake of our death is a chest of our beloved creations, belongings and written words stuffed in the dark corner of an old bungalow tool room?
After nearly 20 years since her passing, the art of Ramona Vinson was discovered this way—in a beautiful disarray of exquisite drawings and paintings, created nearly a century ago; left in an dusty old weathered steamer trunk; only to be discarded to clean out an apartment complex supply room. This is where we begin to paint the mysterious life of Ramona Vinson…
Ramona Vinson (1908 - 2004) was born in the San Gabriel area of Los Angeles, California, on April 5th, 1908 to parents, Newell Vinson (1862-1933) and Eleanor Vinson (1873-1969).[1][2] In 1920, Vinson moved with her parents and her younger sister to the Edgewater area of Chicago, where she eventually began her studies at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1927 and showcased her work at the 30th Annual Exhibition of Student Work at SAIC in 1930.[3][4][5] Vinson was trained by prominent artists such as Antonin Sterba, George J. Rozen, Elmer A. Forsberg, William D. Griffin, and Allen E. Philbrick.
Three years after her father’s passing, Vinson returned to Los Angeles in 1936 to live with her sister and mother in West Hollywood.[6][7] It was the Golden Age of Hollywood and the onset of the second World War as well as the deadly flood of 1938, that whirled around her as she sat drawing and composing poetry. After her sister returned to Chicago to raise her own children, Vinson continued to care for her mother until her mother's passing in 1969 and remained at the same West Hollywood bungalow for over sixty years, from 1940 until 2001. Neighbors who knew her shared that her character was that of a “sophisticated recluse” who had no children to speak of. Vinson passed away on August 19th 2004 in Los Angeles, CA.[8]
Vinson's art evokes a timelessness while also imbuing hints of the intricate beauty found in Art Deco and Art Nouveau movements. Through the window of her eyes and expression of the world around her, we can see the undertones of romanticism even in her figure studies. Both in her art and poetry, we discover a classic, modern 1930s woman who had a passion for life and a longing for love.
Vinson is one of those fine artists who was lost to the capsule of time and found again.
After nearly 20 years since her passing, the art of Ramona Vinson was discovered this way—in a beautiful disarray of exquisite drawings and paintings, created nearly a century ago; left in an dusty old weathered steamer trunk; only to be discarded to clean out an apartment complex supply room. This is where we begin to paint the mysterious life of Ramona Vinson…
Ramona Vinson (1908 - 2004) was born in the San Gabriel area of Los Angeles, California, on April 5th, 1908 to parents, Newell Vinson (1862-1933) and Eleanor Vinson (1873-1969).[1][2] In 1920, Vinson moved with her parents and her younger sister to the Edgewater area of Chicago, where she eventually began her studies at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1927 and showcased her work at the 30th Annual Exhibition of Student Work at SAIC in 1930.[3][4][5] Vinson was trained by prominent artists such as Antonin Sterba, George J. Rozen, Elmer A. Forsberg, William D. Griffin, and Allen E. Philbrick.
Three years after her father’s passing, Vinson returned to Los Angeles in 1936 to live with her sister and mother in West Hollywood.[6][7] It was the Golden Age of Hollywood and the onset of the second World War as well as the deadly flood of 1938, that whirled around her as she sat drawing and composing poetry. After her sister returned to Chicago to raise her own children, Vinson continued to care for her mother until her mother's passing in 1969 and remained at the same West Hollywood bungalow for over sixty years, from 1940 until 2001. Neighbors who knew her shared that her character was that of a “sophisticated recluse” who had no children to speak of. Vinson passed away on August 19th 2004 in Los Angeles, CA.[8]
Vinson's art evokes a timelessness while also imbuing hints of the intricate beauty found in Art Deco and Art Nouveau movements. Through the window of her eyes and expression of the world around her, we can see the undertones of romanticism even in her figure studies. Both in her art and poetry, we discover a classic, modern 1930s woman who had a passion for life and a longing for love.
Vinson is one of those fine artists who was lost to the capsule of time and found again.
References
[1] “Ramona Vinson, 1908”, art database with images, Artfacts (https://artfacts.net/artist/ramona-vinson/919037 : (accessed 12 April 2023)
[2] “United States Census, 1910”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVLZ-Z5V) : (accessed 3 April 2023), Ramona Vinson in household of Newell E Vinson, San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 325, sheet 6B, family 166, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 87; FHL microfilm 1,374,100.
[3] ”United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch. org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJQ1-5GV) : (1 February 2021), Ramona Vinson in entry for Newell E Vinson, 1920.
[4] “30th Annual Exhibition of Student Work, 1930”, database, Artfacts (https://artfacts.net/exhibition/30th-annual-exhibition-of-student-work/1085142) : (assessed 26 April 2023)
[5] “30th Annual Exhibition of Student Work, 1930”, database, “June 12 - July 13, 1930”, Arctic (https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/5509/school-of-the-art-institute-annual-1930)
[6] “Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M8-68XW) : 18 March 2018), Newell Vinson, 13 Apr 1933; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm.
[7] “United States Federal Census for Ramona Vinson, 1940”, database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2442/images/m-t0627-00222-00235?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=69730314)
[8] “United States Social Security Death Index”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JT6M-D4Z) : (11 January 2021), Ramona Vinson, 19 Aug 2004; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
[1] “Ramona Vinson, 1908”, art database with images, Artfacts (https://artfacts.net/artist/ramona-vinson/919037 : (accessed 12 April 2023)
[2] “United States Census, 1910”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVLZ-Z5V) : (accessed 3 April 2023), Ramona Vinson in household of Newell E Vinson, San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 325, sheet 6B, family 166, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 87; FHL microfilm 1,374,100.
[3] ”United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch. org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJQ1-5GV) : (1 February 2021), Ramona Vinson in entry for Newell E Vinson, 1920.
[4] “30th Annual Exhibition of Student Work, 1930”, database, Artfacts (https://artfacts.net/exhibition/30th-annual-exhibition-of-student-work/1085142) : (assessed 26 April 2023)
[5] “30th Annual Exhibition of Student Work, 1930”, database, “June 12 - July 13, 1930”, Arctic (https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/5509/school-of-the-art-institute-annual-1930)
[6] “Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M8-68XW) : 18 March 2018), Newell Vinson, 13 Apr 1933; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm.
[7] “United States Federal Census for Ramona Vinson, 1940”, database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2442/images/m-t0627-00222-00235?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=69730314)
[8] “United States Social Security Death Index”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JT6M-D4Z) : (11 January 2021), Ramona Vinson, 19 Aug 2004; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).