John Andrew Lawn

LAWN John Andrew ("Andy") Lawn, a noted watercolor painter and book illustrator for over five decades, passed away on Friday, October 1, 2010 at Norwalk Hospital. A signature member of the American Watercolor Society and a resident of Southport since the late 1950s, he was known for his realistic portrayals of mid-century Southern Connecticut scenes and dramatic representations of religious and philosophical themes. Born in DuBois, PA to the late Andrew and Ermine Lawn, he was a graduate of DuBois High School and served as a Signalman in the U.S. Navy in World War II, sailing to Europe, Iraq and Iran (then called Persia), Following his return and subsequent marriage to Registered Nurse Cordelia McMahon of Ridgeway, PA, the two moved to New York City where he attended New York's Parson School of Design and the Art Student's League. He initially worked for the U.S. Army Signal Corps in its art department while he began a career as a freelance illustrator and within a few years had established himself with work appearing in a wide range of national publications. These included magazines such as Gourmet, Sign, The Elks, American Legion magazine, The Reporter, Catholic Digest and Harper's. It was also during this time that Mr. Lawn began to develop a reputation as an illustrator of children's books, providing cover and thematic illustrations for publishers like Farrar, Straus & Cudahy, Hart, Troll Publications and Xerox Educational Publications. The Lawns moved to Southport in 1958, shortly after he joined the faculty of Famous Artists Schools in Westport. He worked for FAS for almost two decades while also continuing his freelance work. Mr. Lawn provided illustrations for many art instruction textbooks, including those published by Watson Guptill, FAS and Blake. It was also in Southport in mid-career between 1960 and 1990 that he nurtured his long-time interest in watercolor painting, creating many large watercolor paintings and small casual sketches of famous Southport and Fairfield scenes such as the original Sasco Mill, Perry's Green, the Southport Boatyard, and the train stations of the region. Mr. Lawn's paintings are held in several public and private art collections and he has received numerous awards for his work. Mr. Lawn enjoyed fishing, boating, nature and travelling. He is survived by two sons and their wives, John B. and Beth Lawn of Hudson, OH, and Dennis A. and Bea Lawn of Hollister, CA; two daughters, Patricia A. Lawn of Southport and Barbara M. Naldony and her husband, Edward, of Fairfield; five grandchildren, Katherine, Sarah and Christopher Lawn and Matthew and Patrick Naldony; his sister, Elizabeth Aungst of Buffalo, NY; and two brothers, William Lawn of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, and Bernard Lawn of Lakeview, New York. He was preceded in death by James Lawn of Dubois, Pennsylvania and his beloved wife, the late Cordella McMahon Lawn. Friends are invited to attend the funeral at 11 AM on Monday, October 4, 2010 at St. Luke's Church in Westport for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery with Military Honors. Friends may greet the family on Sunday, October 3, 2010 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Road in Fairfield Center. Donations may be made in his memory to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 54250 To send an online condolence, please visit www.shaughnesseybanks.com