David Franklin Routon, 88, of Lincoln passed away October 26, 2020. David was born December 6, 1931 in Jackson, Tennessee to Ralph and Hallie (Wheat) Routon.
David served as a marine in the Korean War before he went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art at Mexico City College and a Masters of Fine Arts in art practice at the University of Iowa with an emphasis in painting and a secondary emphasis in print making. His career as an artist and art professor took him to Michigan State University, The State University of New York at Plattsburgh, the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and lastly the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He retired in 1997 as Professor Emeritus.
David explored formal representational qualities that pay attention to harmonious image structure juxtaposed against psychological and intuitive ways of seeing and being. His work is characterized by lines and brush strokes that simultaneously reveal and erase the grid of imagery.
His interest in photography and film bled into his artwork. He made painting and drawings of 1940 and 1950’s movie stills such as Fritz Lang’s The Ministry of Fear. His fascination with the composition and austerity of old American homestead photos is present in many of his drawings.
David is survived by his daughters Claudia Joan Routon, Anne Katherine Routon, and his grandson, Oliver David Tonkin.
A private celebration of David’s life will be held at a later date.
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