In the "Gallery of Chalk Drawings" below are listed the names of as many of the "chalk drawings" by Robert Strong Woodward as could be located or identified from exhibition announcements. Robert Strong Woodward never considered these works as "pastels" as they are so often listed. They were drawn on hard brown cardboard with colored chalk. Because the chalk could be dusted off easily, each one when finished was placed into a large slotted box, protecting the surface of the drawing, and taken to Greenfield to the framer who enclosed it in a frame under glass, which was elevated about ¼ inch off the cardboard.

"Chalk drawings" were often, but not always, made of the same subject as an oil painting. If a painting were made of a farmer's barn it was not unusual for an identical chalk drawing to be made and given to the farmer. Robert Strong Woodward loved old dilapidated buildings and these were frequently the subject of a painting or "chalk drawing." A farmer in Hog Hollow (a section of Buckland, MA) once commented "If Rob Woodward ever painted my house I'd know it needed 'fixin'."

"Chalk drawings", in his active years, sold for $125 whereas oil paintings would be sold for $450 (for a 25"x30" or 27"x30") and the larger oil paintings for $600 to $800.00. The subtle colors of his "chalk drawing" scenes were masterfully developed and most critics would agree have never been duplicated.

One unexpected problem developed in a few of his "chalk drawings" in which mold grew on some of the brown chalk. Whenever he learned of this he would take the "chalk drawing" back from its owner, disassemble it from its frame, and painstakingly remove the places which the chalk had molded, and recolor the areas with fresh improved chalk. Some of these restorations consumed more time than he spent making the original.

During the days of World War II, at which time Robert Strong Woodward was at his creative and productive height, many people did not have the disposable income to afford an oil painting but were proud to purchase and own a "chalk drawing." Many of them have become heirlooms for the children of the original owners.

Because they were not catalogued and photographed as were the oil paintings, we have been able to collect only a few images of the many "chalk drawings" which he created. At present these few are illustrated in the Gallery of Oil Paintings of this web site. As more are collected these will be moved to their rightful place in this Gallery of Chalk Drawings.

For the time being, below are listed only the names of these creative works. When an image is available there will be a link to it elsewhere on the site.

If you know about or own one of these chalk drawings or oil paintings we would appreciate having a photograph of it to display here. There would be no mention of your name as being an owner.
 

ABANDONED GRACE
ABANDONED MOWINGS
ABOVE THE CONNECTICUT
ABOVE THE VALLEY
ACROSS THE POND
ACROSS THE RIVER
AEOLUS: THE HOME OF THE WINDS
AFTER THE FIRST NOVEMBER SNOW
THE AGED GUARDIAN
ALONG THE WATER FRONT
AN AUTUMN SONG
AN OLD TAVERN IN LEYDEN
(THE) ASTE HOUSE" (CRAYON DRAWING)
AT MANCHESTER

(A) NEW ENGLAND AFTERNOON
NEW ENGLAND CASTLE
NEW ENGLAND ENDURANCE
NEW ENGLAND FARM
NEW ENGLAND INSPIRATION
NEW ENGLAND LANDSCAPE
NEW ENGLAND ROOFS
NEW ENGLAND SUMMER
NEW ENGLAND! WINTER ( same as Near the Sky above)

NEW SNOW  (?)
NIGHT
NORTH HADLEY FARMYARD
(THE) NORTH MOWING

(THE) NORTH WINDOW
NORTH OF MONADNOCK
NOVEMBER PASTURE
OCTOBER IN DORSET
OCTOBER BLAZE
OCTOBER MAPLES
OCTOBER NOON
OCTOBER PARADE
(THE) OLD BARN
OLD BRICKS, OLD GLASS, OLD SHUTTERS
OLD FARMER
OLD GUARDIAN
OLD HEIGHTS
OLD NEW ENGLAND
(THE) OLD HOUSE
(THE) OLD SILO
(AN) OLD TAVERN IN LEYDEN
ON A MOUNTAIN FARM
ON INTO THE WOODS
ON THE WATERFRONT
OPALESCENT APRIL
OPEN WINTER

OUR BUCKLAND      (NEWSPAPER) OUT OF NEW ENGLAND
OUT OF OLD DEERFIELD
OVER EQUINOX POND
OVER THE MOWING FENCE
OVER THE PASTURE FENCE
OVER THE PASTURE LEDGE
OYSTER HOUSE (NOTE: THIS IS THE FIRST OF THE BOSTON OLD OYSTER HOUSE CHALK AND PAINTINGS.)
A PALE DAY IN AUGUST
PASTURE FERNS
PASTURE GOLD
PASTURE HEIGHTS
(THE) PASTURE LEDGE
(THE) PATCHED ROOF
(THE) PATIENT ANGEL
PERU IN SUMMER
PERU MOUNTAIN
(THE) PROUD ROOSTER
RECUMBENT GREYLOCK
RED BARN
(THE) RED DOOR
RED OAK
(THE) RED SILO
RIGHT OF HEATH--WINTER TRILOGY
(THE) RIVER CURVE
(THE) ROAD HOME
(THE) ROAD TO CHURCH (Summer)
ROAD TO THE CHURCH (Fall)
ROCKING MORNING
ROSCOE TEMPLE'S SUGAR HOUSE
"ROSES FOR MOTHER" (UNNAMED WATERCOLOR)
S. A. ALLEN'S CORNER
(THE) SADDLEBACK BARN
SAP'S BOILING
SEA OF HILLS
(THE) SHADED HILL
SHADOWS ON GREYLOCK
SHOULDERS OF EQUINOX
(THE) SILO
(THE) SLANTING SILO
SILVER CLOUDS AND HAYSTACK
(THE) SILVER SKY OVER EQUINOX
SLIP ON THE WATERFRONT
SPRING COMES AGAIN
SUGARING
SUMMER GARDEN
SUMMER IN MASSACHUSETTS
TO THE WINTER PORCH
TOWN FARM IN MAY
(THE) THREE CHIMNEYS
THROUGH SUMMER HILLS
TRUMPETING ANGEL
(THE) TUFT'S LIVING ROOM
(THE) TWIN BARNS
UNDER THE NOVEMBER SKY
UNDER THE PASTURE BEECH
(THE) UNFINISHED SILO
UP THE PASTURE ROAD
(THE) VALLEY IN JUNE
VERMONT BARNS

VERMONT DRAMA 
(THE) VILLAGE IN APRIL

WAITING FOR SPRING
WARPED ROOFS
WEST GLOW
WEST, VICTOR J. - BOOKPLATE

WHEN AUTUMN COMES

WHEN CORN IS RIPE

WHERE FOUR STONE WALLS USED TO MEET

WHERE THE STONE WALL JOINS THE LEDGE
(THE) WIDE SPREADING ELM

WIND ON THE HILL

(A) WINTER AFTERNOON
WINTER HEIGHTS
WINTER HILL TO WINTER HILL
WINTER IN NEW ENGLAND
WINTER PASTURES (Heath Pasture, no beech)
WINTER RIVER
(A) WINTER SKETCH
WINTER STREAM
(The) YOUNG TREE AND THE OLD HOUSE