DOYLESTOWN, PA.- The James A. Michener Art Museum announces the opening of A Sense of Place: Paintings by Ranulph Bye in the Fred Beans Gallery. The exhibition comprises 40 of his works from private collections and is curated by Lisa Tremper Hanover, Director & CEO of the Museum, with the assistance of Glenna Lange Bye, artist and widow of Ranulph Bye, NA; AWS.

A teacher, writer and nationally acclaimed artist, Bye was considered one of the foremost watercolorists of his time and found his greatest inspiration in the landscapes of Bucks County. With a deft touch and acute eye, the artist was known for his masterful rendering of rural American landscapes, seascapes and buildings. From fire stations, train depots and architecture, to sweeping farm fields and serene lakes, Bye created a true Sense of Place that resonates today. Throughout his lifetime, he produced numerous paintings, capturing the rich heritage of Bucks County and beyond.

Ranulph Bye (1916-2003) was born in Princeton, NJ and made his home in Mechanicsville, Bucks County, Pa. He was a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Art (University of the Arts) and the Art Students League of New York. He and his second wife, Glenna Lange Bye, also a watercolor artist, traveled the world on painting trips. Mrs. Bye notes that her husband was a preservationist and documentarian. “Ranulph was determined to preserve both places and things, including train stations, Victorian homes and fire stations. He loved these things and wanted to make sure they were preserved for future generations to enjoy as much as he did.”

Bye’s greatest honors were his selection by the Academy of Design as a National Academician and his signature memberships in the American Watercolor Society (AWS) and the Philadelphia Water Color Society. He was also a Crest Award recipient and won exhibition awards at competitions throughout the country. His works can also be viewed in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution, Temple University, Moore College of Art and Design, the Reading Public Museum and William Penn Memorial Museum. Bye published several books, including Victorian Sketchbook and The Vanishing Depot (1973), and several instructional books on painting in watercolor including Painting Buildings in Watercolor (1994) and Ranulph Bye’s Bucks County (1997).