Jack’s Art

 

 

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Jack’s “studio” is a corner of his bedroom at the Kahala Apartments, a gorgeous complex

near the Kahala Hilton. The view from Jack and wife Marie’s third story suite is staggering,

the blue Pacific stretching as far as the eye can see, and obviously the inspiration for some

of Lord’s early work, which includes seascapes, angry volcanoes, and palm-studded beaches. 

. . . one certainly wouldn’t call Lord a Sunday painter, although that’s usually his painting

day. (“Five-O” Shoots Monday Through Saturday in Stars Who Paint, publication

data unknown.)

 

Jack said, “When I was 12 years old, I entered a poster contest sponsored by the ASPCA. My poster won first prize. (Hoffman, Jim. Is “Stoney” a Phony? in Motion Picture, Vol. 53, No. 628, May 1963.)

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Jack Lord was an artist: a painter, a collector of art, and a photographer. He was also an artist in another sense. He experimented with different styles, so much so that art appraisers today have difficulty in determining whether a work actually is his. He even dabbled in the styles of the French impressionists, as evidenced by a scene of water lilies, which he painted for his wife. Also indicative of his artistic nature, he was a harsh critic of his own work and is reputed to have destroyed thirty percent of his paintings.

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Art was Jack's first love. He once said he only entered acting as a way to make his name known, so he could sell his art. The plan worked, and by the time Hawaii Five-O ended production, Jack was selling his art for astronomical sums – in the thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, the plan had a side effect that Jack probably would not have asked for if he had known it would be involved. As he gained in popularity as an actor, the demands on his time and attention increased exponentially. The press wanted to interview him. His fans wanted his autographs. The naysayers spread their gossip. It all became unbearable. And, so, when McGarrett hung up his holster after twelve seasons, Jack retired – back to his art.

 

 

Painting

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Jack learned art while growing up. In part, he learned from art classes – first, at John Adams High School and, later, at New York University, where he majored in fine arts education. He also learned from his older brother, Bill, who achieved a fair degree of success, painting. Jack looked up to Bill, who was two years his senior; in fact, while Jack was in college, he and Bill went in together to open the Village Academy of Art in Greenwich Village.

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While Jack was at sea – first, as a summer employee, while still in high school, and, later, while he was in the Merchant Marine – he sketched and painted likenesses of the scenery he saw from the ship, scenes of Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa. His work in those years reflected a student’s mentality, for they tended to be architectural, as in the painting of the Mediterranean fishing boat, which first appeared in “Highest Castle, Deepest Grave.” (Coopersmith, Jerome, “Highest Castle, Deepest Grave” (Season 4), Hawaii Five-O. CBS / Paramount, 1972.)

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As Jack developed his talent, he began painting large and detailed landscapes and seascapes, some of which have brought as much as $10,000. Some of these works have appeared in more than 40 galleries and museums around the world. It is interesting to note that some of us own lithographs of works that Jack donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (Hawaii Five-O Fan Club, www.hawaiifive0.org.)

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*  "Fisher Shacks, Block Island" (print 11 of an edition of 20). This print is known

to us as "Sand Island." It is signed "John Joseph Ryan" and was donated in 1940.

*  "Vermont" (print 6 of an edition of 25) signed "Ryan" and donated in 1940.

*  "The Sisters," signed "Jack Lord" and dated 1956. It appeared in various versions;

the first iterations lack color in the background, while the later ones feature an

aqua background (print 15 of an edition of 50).

*  "Block Island" (print 31 of an edition of 50) signed "Jack Lord" and dated 1956.

 

Later, many of Jack's works took on characteristics of primitive painting. In his unnamed anthurium painting, the colors are not true to the flower, and the bowl in which they sit is lopsided, yet the picture works. There is a detailing to even this most primitive of works that lends an authenticity to it, despite its casual presentation. It is as though one could reach out and touch the blossoms, and they would feel like anthurium blossoms really feel.

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Of his change in style, Jack said transferring mental images to canvass is challenging in that he tries to capture only the important elements, which he considers to be most memorable. A good example of this style is seen in one of Jack's early works, "The Sisters,” in which he captures a large, white moon (some say it is the sun) shining through a grove of palm trees growing on a grassy shore.

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We don’t see boats, buildings, people, or even the distant background – only the moon, the trees, and the grass, what Jack wanted us to see. If we compare this to one of his seashore paintings, where we see mountains and clouds in the background, waves crashing against the shore, and maybe the glow of a sunset, in between, we can see a marked difference. In the first, we know what to look at. In the second, we have to explore each element, in turn; then, take in the overall effect.

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Don’t be misled into thinking transferring mental images to canvass was any simpler than painting a full landscape. Jack left behind artist proofs showing how he experimented with multiple drafts of lithographs until he achieved the desired effect. He also left behind proofs showing the various stages he went through in the creation of his lithographs.

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Jack used bright colors and often included a verse of poetry, either in or around the scene. His butterfly, entitled Pulelehua, possessed bright and vivid colors, rather than those possessed by the butterfly in real life. His landscapes are noted for their use of bold colors. Sky blue wouldn't do; Jack used royal blue.

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Jack did not completely surrender traditional painting techniques. Some of his later works were much truer to life, such as his portrayal of the volcano on Maui, Haleakala, which reflects elements of French impressionism, as well as the realism of the boulders in the foreground and the clouds encircling the apex of the mountain.

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We can see some of Jack's paintings on Hawaii Five-O, especially in the episode "Invitation to Murder" (Season 10). Many of the paintings in the Barlow home were painted by Jack.

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It seems almost certain that most people became aware of Jack’s art when original works and lithographs were sold at his and Marie’s online estate auction in 2007. Jack’s works continue to sell today for generous sums and, at certain points, have sold for as much as ten times as they fetched at the auction.

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Jack’s Art Sales on eBay (2011 to 2013)

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From 2011 until the end of 2013, sales of Jack’s lithographs on eBay enjoyed nothing less than a wild ride. There were many bids and soaring prices, often occurring in the last three seconds of bidding.

 

Since then, sales have simmered down. Buying options have been opened to include “Buy It Now” or “Best Offer.” Since 2015, the lithographs most often have been offered for “Buy It Now,” only. Since then, there have been more “No Sale” months or months in which only one or two works have been sold. 

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Jack once said he had abandoned art in favor of acting, because he did not have the talent necessary to paint as the French impressionists had done. (Oppenheimer, Peer J. “Jack Lord: Painting or Performing, He’s a Perfectionist” in Family Weekly. September 28, 1969, p. 7.)  In time, he gained the maturity and self-confidence necessary to realize he did not need to emulate the French impressionists in order to paint well. Even so, it has been said that he destroyed more than 30 percent of his paintings. (Oppenheimer, Ibid.)

 

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Jack’s Private Collection

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Jack collected art and is reputed to have had quite a sizable inventory of works by both traditional and contemporary artists. He owned a reproduction of Paul Gauguin's Fatata Te Miti, which, along with other pieces from his collection, appeared on Hawaii Five-O in the episode “How to Steal a Masterpiece” (Season 7).

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Jack is known to have donated pieces from his collection – some, his own work and some, the work of others – to art museums. Jack donated works by French artist Jean Charlot to the Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia. The donation prompted the university to have an exhibition of Charlot's work and to establish a new museum publication showcasing each of the museum's exhibitions "...as a direct result of [Jack's] gift..." (Paul, William D. Jr. Letter to Jack Lord. Georgia Museum of Art. February 1, 1978.)  Jack's donations are named in the catalogue and were a part of the exhibition.

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Photography

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Jack was also a photographer. He said he fell in love with photography while a merchant seaman, visiting foreign ports.

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I used the camera to record what I saw, then I'd translate it into painting. Now I work from

the subconscious. Art is the expression of the man. It's like fishing with a net with a big mesh.

All the little things fall through. The big things remain. What I try to do is, I try to work

from memory. Then it's different, fresh, unique, my own. (Witherwax, Rita. “Jack Lord:

The Man Behind McGarrett” in Aloha. October 1980.)

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With all of Hawaii as his subject, Jack took photographs of the islands and compiled them into a book, which he called Jack Lord’s Hawaii. Information about whether it ever was published remains elusive. Booksellers have been unable to locate any book published by Jack Lord. Perhaps, it was published; perhaps, it was not. In any case, it surely was a masterpiece if we judge by the words he wrote,

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We love the place – the fresh clean air, especially after having lived in Los Angeles and New

York City with their air-pollution problems. We love the sparkling blue sea forty feet from

our lanai. The birds and flowers (there are over three hundred varieties of flowering plants

and trees). We love the people and their Polynesian and Oriental backgrounds, customs,

folk ways, mores. (Lord, Jack. “Aloha ‘Oe” in “Jack Lord, Holiday’s Lord of the Leis

in Hawaii” in ASTA Holiday. May 1977.)

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At one time, a traveling exhibition of 80 of Jack's photographs toured the United States. Included were many portraits that Jack took on the sets while acting. The subjects of the portraits included Marlon Brando, Gary Cooper, and William Holden, among others. (“Lord Says He Found Paradise in Hawaii.” United Press International. Home Notes: Tribute. August 27, 1975, p. 12-H.)

 

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Jewelry Design

 

As if painting and photography weren't enough, Jack also designed jewelry. During his world travels, he purchased beads and other jewelry-making accoutrements, which he took home and made into fascinating necklaces and other items, which both he and Marie wore.

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