Saratoga loses familiar Broadway artist

On Jan. 4 Ardis Hughes, a local artist, passed away at the age of 97. While spending summers in Saratoga Springs for more than 20 years, Huges could be found on Broadway, sitting on a small stool while drawing or painting the buildings and scenes of Saratoga. If asked by a passerby if he had a studio, Hughes would often joke "you can find me in the gutter," a reference to his typical seat by the street to get the best angle of a building to draw.
Huges was born on Jan. 3, 1912 in Oneonta, NY. As stated in a newspaper article from his winter home in St. Augustine, Hughes did not come from an artistic family but was winning illustration awards by the time he was 12. He later went on to graduate from Pratt Institute in 1934. During his time at Pratt, he began painting war bond posters for World War II. After being drafted himself, Hughes worked in the Army's art department where he continued to paint posters, one of which hangs in the New York State Military Museum today. He also painted a 16-foot billboard that stood in front of the Washington Monument before being placed in the main entrance of The Pentagon.

Travel was another great passion of Huges'. After being sent to Paris in 1945 for the Army, he began traveling to Spain, Vienna, Bavaria, England's Constable country and many other European places. Before he began spending winters in St. Augustine, he spent the colder months in Spain. Saratoga Springs was always his choice for the summer months, however.

He discovered Saratoga Springs through family, and a weekend trip was all that was necessary to show him that this was the place to be.

From all of his travels, what people remember of the fantastically talented artist is his playful demeanor while talking to those who stopped to look over his shoulder on the street. When asked about the secret to long life in St. Augustine, he is quoted as saying, "Interest. I wake up and have an interest. I think that's important," he said before adding "and the quart of whiskey and three packs of cigarettes a day." He later admitted that he didn't smoke and occasionally had a glass of wine.

While Saratoga Springs and the rest of the places Huges sketched during his life will miss his familiar face, he leaves behind his art as a legacy. In Saratoga Springs, his art can be found at FrameWork on Phila Street, the Adirondack Trust Co. and the New York State Military Museum.