Sergei “Alexander” Nelke was born on 14 December 1894 in Vihula, Reval, Estonia. His ancestry was Finnish. The first mention of him in U.S. records is his WWI draft registration card, which was completed on 1 August 1917, and notes he was tall, stout, blue eyed and had light color hair. He had arrived as a seaman on the ship Brosund shortly before that, and the ship's passenger list gives his height as 5' 8 1/2” and weight as 200 lbs. Other records indicate that he worked as a ship's carpenter for as long as 17 years. His brother, Waldemar “George” Nelke arrived in the U. S. about the same time, also employed as a ship's carpenter, but married a Finnish woman named Lillian soon after and worked as a maintenance man in a bank for many years. Census and naturalization records for George Nelke have helped to confirm the identity of Alexander Nelke. The WWI draft registration cards of both men mention that they were supporting a mother and sister in Russia, likely in Estonia.

unnamed, A. Nelke, 10" x 14", oil on stretched canvas

    Nelke appears as a sailor on several ship's passenger lists before 1930. He does not appear in any census records, so likely worked as a sailor or traveled before 1940. His 17 year career as a shipboard carpenter is mentioned in the “New Yorker at Large” column of the Morning News of Florence, South Carolina on 17 June 1936. The subject of this column was the Washington Square annual outdoor art show in New York City. Nelke is mentioned in the article as an exhibitor and one of the “handful of surprising personalities” of the show. Nelke is referenced as a member of the Washington Square Outdoor Association in the Supplement to Mallett's Index of Artists. Nelke worked as a commercial artist, and his work was often reproduced at prints and on items such as playing cards.

    Nelke exhibited at the Salons of America in 1934 & 1936 and with The Society of Independent Artists (SIA) in 1934, 1936, 1938, 1940 and 1944. The record of his address on Baltic Street in Brooklyn, New York in the records of the SIA matches the address on his WWII Draft Registration card and 1945 Naturalization record. Both of these records give his full name as Sergei Alexander Nelke, though he signed as Alexander Nelke on his draft registration card. Nelke is also mentioned in Davenports Art Reference and Price Guide and Who Was Who in American Art by Falk. Details regarding his training as an artist are not known. Nelke primarily painted marine scenes and landscapes, but one reference to a figurative painting has been found.

    Nelke died in Brooklyn, New York in August 1974.

    Rosabelle Jacqueline Morse was born on 13 November 1914 in Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of Louis Joseph and Gertrude Labuschin Morse. Louis and Gertrude were married about 1903 and were living in Brooklyn in 1910 where Louis was working as an "Inspector, street". Louis was working as an "Inspector, Docks and Ferries" in Brooklyn during the 1915 New York census. Gertrude was born in Germany and came to the US in 1887, at the age of 5 years. Louis was the son of English immigrants. According to the 1936 year book of Cooper Union College she was attending the Day Art School. Rosabelle attended Cooper Union College for five years and worked as an artist her entire life. She married Benjamin Breger by 1940 when they were living in the Bronx, New York during the census. Benjamin was employed as a "truant officer, public school". Rosabelle seems to have continued to use her maiden name when she worked as an artist. Later in life she resided in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Her exhibition at the Ward Eggleston Gallery, New York was mentioned in "Arts Magazine" and "Magazine of Art" in 1951. She is mentioned in the "Art News Annual" in 1955 and in the "Portfolio and Art News Annual" in 1960. She was mentioned in "Locus: A Cross-referenced Directory of New York Galleries and Art" in 1975. She was listed in Who's Who in American Art in 1999 and Dictionary of signatures & monograms of American artists, from the colonial period to the mid 20th century by Peter Falk.
    This painting was purchased directly from the artist's daughter. She noted that the subject was Rosabelle's piano teacher. Rosabelle was also an accomplished musician.
    Rosabelle died on 21 December 2002 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Verso

John Shayn signature

    Carlton Daniel Ellinger was born on 8 November 1888 in Allegan, Michigan a son of Daniel J. G. and Amelia R. Ellinger. Daniel J. G. Ellinger was deceased by 1900 and Carlton and his mother were living with his grandparents, Daniel and Regina Ellinger in Allegan. Daniel Ellinger was a "preacher". Carlton was living in Detroit, Michigan in 1910 where he was a self employed "Designer, Book Cover". Carlton may have received his artistic training in Detroit, but no record has been found to support this. There are indications that he was employed in Grand Rapids, Michigan before moving to Detroit. He was living in Manhattan, New York on 5 June 1917 when he completed his WWI Draft Registration. His occupation was listed at "Artist, Self employed". His registration noted that he was the sole support for his mother and wife. Ellinger served as a private in Company 8, Ninth Coast Artillery Corps, during WWI. Carlton was married to Mary L. Snyder between 1910 and 1917, probably closer to 1910. Mary was also born in Michigan. The Ellingers were still living in Manhattan in 1920 where Carlton was employed as a "Commercial Artist". By 1930 Carlton and Mary had relocated to Bronxville, Westchester County, New York and Carlton was still employed as a "Commercial Artist". Carlton worked for several printing companies in Michigan and New York, starting before 1910. Mention of Carlton in printing trade journals and advertisements started before 1920. There are few mentions of his work as a fine artist.

Advertising example

    Carlton was a member of the Salmagundi Club in 1925 and the Artists Guild of the Author's League of America (New York City). He is mentioned in Davenport's Art Reference and Price Guide, Who Was Who in American Art by Falk, William Morris: Ornamentation and illustrations from the Kelmscott Chaucer by William Morris and Some Examples of the Work of American Designers by Bowles.
     The last reference to Carlton found using Google was a mention in 1947 in Financial World, Volume 88. He was employed by Sun Life Assurance of Canada.

    Paul Bachem is a New York plein aire painter. He has a web site. Bachem had a long career as a freelance illustrator before devoting himself to fine art. He is an associate member of the New York Plein Air Painters and a founding member of the Long Island Plein Air Painters Society. The painting above is the first painting by Paul that I added to my collection in 2008-9. It is such an odd size that I have never had it framed, though it would be easy to do at framesbymail.com. I just have it sitting on the top of the window frame in my middle bay window. Paul told me that this was done in his old style before he started painting en plein aire using techniques and palettes used by his favorite artist. 

    "Moonrise" is a sketch for a larger painting of the same name. The larger painting was 11" x 14". This sketch was painted en plein aire on an unseasonably warm winter morning on the last day of January in 2011.

    Though I am not really collecting any more (Spring 2016) due to lack of wall and storage space, Paul put this little gem on sale and I impulse purchased it before I could restrain myself. It will be fun to search the local thrift shops again for the perfect frame and then spend an hour walking around my house for an hour trying to find a place to squeeze it in. Damn you, Paul! ;o)

    When I purchased my first painting from Paul around 2008-9 I just missed getting this one which had just sold. Then in 2018 I found it for sale on ebay. Karma? Paul didn't keep track of the titles on his early works and couldn't remember what he titled it, but did remember exactly where this house is, Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, NY, and that the CSH Library is just to the left of the house and up the hill and the harbor is just to the right of the house. He decided to call it "Red House on a Hill" after we exchanged a few emails.

"Blizzard Walk", Paul Bachem, 21" x 15.25", oil on board

    This painting was actually done for a book cover, but I think it can easily stand on its own as a piece of fine art. The book was "Day of the Blizzard" by Marietta Moskin, Scholastic Inc., NY, 1997. It reminds me of another winter blizzard scene in my collection that has a woman in a red shawl struggling through the snow. One of my favorite paintings. It had also been on Paul's Illustrations page for quite a few years. When I finally bought it in December 2018, and tried to save the image to my computer, I found that I had already saved it from Paul's site in April of 2012. I guess it has been in the back of my mind!

    Ruth E. Baderian was born 2 July 1927 in the Bronx, New York, a daughter of John and Emma Tietjen. John was employed as a "Commercial Traveler, Tea & Coffee" in 1930. Ruth was married to Steven G. Baderian. Ruth earned a scholarship to the Art Students League in New York City. She was a teacher and artist in watercolors and oils. Baderian won numerous awards for her work from well known organizations including the Salmagundi Club, American Artists Professional League and Long Island University. Ruth Baderian was a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, and won the Grumbacher Gold Medal three times. She was a member of, and teacher at, the Art League of Long Island and a member of She is mentioned in Davenports Art Reference and Price Guide, Who's Who in American Art (1973, 1976), and Who Was Who in American Art by Falk. Her works appeared in The Best of Flower Painting, Artistic Touch 2 and Artistic Touch 3 as well as in "Watercolor Magazine" Winter 1999, and in "American Artist Magazine" April 1996.
    Ruth died on 17 December 2010 at Williston Park, Nassau County, New York.

    Dorise Evelyn Olson was born on 8 June 1932 in New York City, a daughter of Arthur and Anna Carlson Olson. Dorise attended at the Art Students League where she studied with Louis Bosa. She was a Salmagundi Club Scholar and studied under Daniel Greene. She married fellow artist Raul Jose Mina-Mora. She is mentioned in Who's Who in American Art (1989-1992), Who Was Who in American Art by Falk, Women Artists in America: 18th century to present (1790-1980) by Collins, Who's Who of American Women (1984), and Who's Who in the East by Marquis.
    Dorise died on 29 June 1991 in Oakdale, Suffolk County, New York. Raul died on 30 May 1996.

    Judith "Judy" Hausman was born on 13 February 1916 in Antwerp, Belgium, a daughter of Elias Jacob and Mary Stern. The Sterns arrived in New Orleans on 10 September 1941 on the S.S. Shawnee from Havana, Cuba. Elias gave his occupation as "Diamond Merchant", and his children's names as Irena, Ruth, Judith, and Menachem. Their race was given as "Hebrew", and all were born in Antwerp, Belgium, except for Elias who was born in Szerencs, Hungary. Judith married Gershon Hausman. The Hausmans settled in New York City. According to her obituary, Judy was an artist, though no other records of her work as an artist have been found. She is not listed in any art reference book.

    The back of this painting has extensive information about this painting's history, including Ruth E. Hoffman's signature. This painting was part of Hoffman's personal collection and later in the collection of Dr. Anthony J. Sisti.

    I purchased this from a seller in Gladstone, New Jersey. When I queried the dealer about the source for the painting, he replied:

"I purchased this painting from another dealer, the artist name is Mary Hise, Mary Cathawne Hawley, formerly Mary Hise 1910-1983, artist from South Wales/East Aurora N. Y. area in western new York State. Mary painted from the 50's-70's"

   Italo George Botti was born on  24 March 1923 in Greenwich Village, New York a son of Ettore and Filomena Botti, Italian immigrants. The Bottis immigrated to the US on 22 August 1920 from Agripoli, Italy on the S.S. Duca Degli Abruzza. Ettore's occupation was give as "Tailor" on the ship's passenger list and as "Tailor, Clothing Co." on the 1930 census of Brooklyn, New York. Several Botti men and their families were his neighbors in 1930; James "boot black, shoe shine parlor", Dominick "laborer, railroad", and Biase "laborer, lithograph co". These men may have been brothers of Ettore, as all were near him in age.    
    Italo G. Botti was well known for his painting, stained glass, sculpture, and mosaic work. Botti attended the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts, Leonardo da Vinci School of Art, the Abracheff School of Fine Art, the National Academy of Design, and the Art Students League. He studied under Frank Vincent Dumond, Nicolai Abracheff, Reginald Marsh, and Bernard Lamott. An example of his mosaic work may be seen on the Botti Studio web site. He taught at the City College of New York, the Art Students League, and the Art Institute of Chicago. As it turns out Botti is listed in Davenports Art Reference and Price Guide, Who Was Who in American Art by Falk, and is also mentioned on a couple of the more popular on line art web sites.

           





   




Examples of Barrel's work

   Botti painted under the pseudonyms "George Barrel" and "Barrel Botti", before starting to use his birth name, Italo Botti. This may have only been true while he worked with Arts International and other galleries. He seems to have signed his work either Barrel or Botti in block letters. This piece caught my eye as I skimmed ebay. I paid very little for it, without researching it and kind of kicked myself afterward, expecting it to turn out to be an import or by an obscure artist, though the seller claimed he was "listed". The seller was  completely clueless as to the identity of the artist, claiming it was by W. R. Barrel, despite the fact the George Barrel's biography and the original sales receipt were attached to the back of the painting! Yes, hard to believe, but true. I am including several images of Botti's work as George Barrel, found on the Internet, since he is something of a mystery artist under the pseudonym Barrel. I am reasonably certain that all of these works are by the same artist. I was quite surprised when an Internet search fairly easily turned up several auction records for his work and other sellers with his work for sale. All of the works are largish, the smallest I have seen listed was 24" x 36". A couple of the auction houses who brought his work up for sale don't sell junk, so his work seems to be considered of value. He is frequently misidentified as W. R. Barrel for some reason, though I had no difficulty in determining that Botti painted under other names. Of course the biography taped to the back of the painting helped. It should also be noted that there was an Argentinian artist named Italo Botti (1889-1974) and there also seems to be some amount of confusion between these two artists. One of the paintings shown above was attributed to the elder Botti, but the style is more in keeping with that of the younger artist.

    Dr. George Feldman was born 13 October 1897 in New York City, New York, a son of Isaac and Fannie Feldman, Austrian immigrants. Isaac Feldman owned a tailor shop. George gave his occupation as "dental student" on his WWI draft registration. He applied for a passport in 1923, giving his occupation as dentist, and his intent to travel to Germany, Switzerland, and France to "study". There is no indication if he was studying dentistry or art, or both. He was living alone during the 1930 census of New York City, occupied as a dentist. There are numerous mentions of him on passenger lists for various ocean voyages to Europe. He traveled frequently in the 1920s and 1930s.
    Feldman is listed in Falk's Who Was Who in American Art, where it is noted that he was a painter, cartoonist, craftsperson, and graphic artist. He painted in both oils and watercolors. Feldman attended the Art Students League and New York University. He was a member of the American Watercolor Society. He exhibited at the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, and at the American Watercolor Society, Brooklyn Museum, Morton Gallery, and Chautauqua, NY. He was 89 when he painted the painting my collection. There is a bit of glare from the glass. I will get a better photo, by and by. This may not be his best work, but I like that he kept painting. His signature is very strong, so he may have retained his skills. I have not been able to find any other examples of his work for comparison.
    George Feldman died on 9 April 1997 in Ithaca, NY at the age of 99.

    Cyril Joseph Ledoux (pronounced "le doo") was born on 19 July 1894 in New York City, New York, a son of Alexander J. and Theresa M. Ledoux. Another son, Sylvester, was born in Pennsylvania in 1895. Alexander was an immigrant from French Canada and employed as a laborer in Manhattan, New York in 1900, as a candy maker in a confectionery shop in Saratoga Springs, NY in 1910, and as a laborer in a machine shop in Elmira, NY in 1920. I have seen indications that he came from Quebec, but have not been able to confirm this. According to New York city directories Cyril was a student in Saratoga Springs in 1910, employed at the National Aluminum Works in Elmira in 1914 and 1915, a toolmaker at the Arsenal in Troy in 1918,  an employee of "K V Co" in Elmira and toolmaker in Troy in 1920, and so on. On 5 June 1917, when Cyril completed his WWI draft registration card, he was residing in Elmira, and employed as toolmaker for the Willys-Morrow Mfg. Co. During the 1920 census, Cyril and his brother, Sylvester, were employed as toolmakers in a machine shop. During the 1930 census, Cyril was living in Rochester, NY as a lodger in a private home, working a "designer, machine tool co.". Cyril married Anne Rose Mattes about 1935 and their son, Cyril Joseph Jr. was born on 14 June 1936. From 1936-1960 Cyril is listed as a designer in Rochester city directories. The address he was employed at appears to be for the Delco Appliance Company. Prior to 1930, this company was called the North East Electric Company and Ledoux may have worked there then, as well. Ledoux was mentioned in the American Magazine of Art in 1930, and in the Proceedings of the Rochester Academy of Science in 1953. Ledoux received his training as a toolmaker at the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute, what is today known as the Rochester Institute of Technology. It is not known where he received his artistic training.

unnamed, Cyril Ledoux, 13" x 16", oil, 22 October 1927

    Ledoux started painting at the age of 19, about 1913, according to his daughter. He was a painter in oils, etcher, engraver, jewelry designer, and photographer. His family still owns his engraving press. He was the secretary of the Rochester Art Club (RAC), 1928-1930. Ledoux was selected to design a mace for the University of Rochester. Ledoux developed his own photographs, though I have not found any information to indicate that he exhibited his photographic work. He painted in the company of Carl William Peters and Edward Siebert. Siebert painted his portrait, which is still in the possession of the family. Ledoux was the Secretary at the 29 January 1929 meeting of the RAC, when Carl W. Peters was one of 20 members present. Cyril Ledoux exhibited at the Buffalo Artists Association Albright Gallery Show in 1927 and 1928, and at the Rochester Art Club annual show in 1930. He taught at the Rochester Art Gallery and exhibited at the first Clothesline Show at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester in 1958. He had a lengthy career as a painter, likely created numerous paintings and exhibited his work many times. He is not documented in any art reference book, though, and despite his exhibition record and association with some notable regional artists, there is little interest in his work and his paintings tend to sell for minimal amounts.
    All of the paintings in my collection are painted on boards except for one large painting on canvas. Two other large paintings on canvas I have seen were marine scenes.

"Autumn afternoon", Cyril Ledoux, 8" x 10", oil (Buffalo Society of Artists 1927 exhibition label)

unnamed, Cyril Ledoux, 13" x 16", oil

    Cyril Ledoux died in December 1976 in Rochester, and was buried in the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Rochester on 13 December 1976. He designed his own tombstone and the tombstone for his parents' grave in Elmira, NY. Anne R. Ledoux died on 16 February 1999 in Rochester. Some of the information in this biography was gathered in a telephone call to Ledoux's daughter in April 2010.

    Donald W. Lambo was born on 3 December 1921 in Amsterdam, New York, a son of John O. and Anna M. Lambo. John was an Italian immigrant and Anna was a German immigrant. Both immigrated to the US in the late 1880s. John was working as a "loom fixer, rug mill" in 1930. Donald worked as an illustrator for many years and I found numerous books that he supplied the illustrations for. He later started working as a fine artist. His wife was also a fine artist.

    This label was glued to the back of the painting, and gives a brief biography of Lambo. I am not sure if this painting falls under the category of fine art or illustration. It may have started as an illustration and later was sold as fine art.

   Elizabeth L."Betty" "Liz" Widmayer was born 28 January 1926 in Queens, New York, a daughter of Walter and Bessie Widmayer. Walter was occupied as a chauffeur in 1920 and a "hacksman, taxical" in 1930. For many years Betty lived with her sister, Joan Widmayer, at 333 57th St., New York City, according to old telephone directories. This relationship is proved by the obituary of their brother, Walter J. Widmayer, who died in New Smyrna Beach, Florida on 11 January 1997. This address is written on the back of many of Betty's paintings, along with her name. Joan used the pseudonym Walters in the music business, and possibly in other ventures. I have also found references to her as Joan Walters Widmayer. One record for a Joan Widmayer identifies her as a student at the Frostburg State Teachers College.  I have no proof that this is the same woman. Joan was born in November 1930. Betty and Joan copyrighted several songs in the late 1970s and early 1980s as the team of Walters and Widmayer.

unnamed, Elizabeth Widmayer, 38" x 28", oil

    A Betty Widmayer is mentioned in "Savage Art: A biography of Jim Thompson". She was identified as "a young graphic artist in charge of layout and design" at the New York magazine "Police Gazette" in 1951. An Elizabeth Widmayer of New York was a patron member of the American Society of Portrait Artists. I have seen claims that she was a fashion model with an "outgoing and positive personality", but cannot confirm that. A significant number of her paintings were offered on ebay in late 2009 by several sellers, so it is possible they came from her estate, or the estate of a relative. All of the work by I have seen by Widmayer has been figurative. She was an accomplished artist, but I have not found listings for her in any art reference book, any records of exhibitions of her work, and no auction records for her work, except on ebay.
    After her death, a lot of fashion illustrations, prints and proofs, signed by Elizabeth was purchased at a nearby 58th Street estate sale. The dated proofs and prints were from the late 1960s. The work was done for various New York fashion publications, including Bergdorf Goodman, the Ritz, Lord & Taylor and Abercrombie and Fitch. The work bore the Widmayer's 57th street address and some bear the name of Jane Walters as Elizabeth's representative.     
    Betty Widmayer died on 16 September 2008 in New York City.

    Mrs. Catherine H. Gardner was born on 20 November 1901 in Gridletree, Worcester, MA. She married James E. Gardner about 1936 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, NY. The source for her birthplace a 1936 passenger list, likely at the time of her honeymoon. She was a member of the Dutchess County Art Association of Poughkeepsie, New York. She served as Treasurer of that organization. She was a frequent exhibitor at the shows sponsored by the art association. She exhibited oils and watercolors in the 1930s and 1940s. In 1942, one of her watercolors, "Manchester Bridge Houses", was chosen for a WWII Victory Calendar. Each month featured a painting by a Dutchess County artist. Her painting was used for the month of December. The announcement of the winners of the calendar contest was made by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mrs. Gardner is mentioned several times in the Poughkeepsie Eagle News, Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle, and the Harlem Valley Times, in connection with her work as an artist. The names of her paintings are often given, and the themes of her work appear to have been coastal scenes and florals. Her works were often described as "brightly colored". She is not mentioned in any art reference book that I have examined, but I have found several mentions of her works in auction records. I was not able to locate her in census records or other primary records. She resigned as Art Supervisor in the Dutchess County public schools in December of 1936, possibly due to her marriage. She and her husband appear in numerous Poughkeepsie City Directories. James appears with his parents in the 1920 and 1930 Federal census records of Poughkeepsie.
    Catherine Gardner died December 1984 in Poughkeepsie. James was born on 28 September 1908 in New York and died in Poughkeepsie on 25 August 1984. James was a WWII veteran of the US Navy, enlisting in 1944.

    Samuel Kamen was born 15 June 1911 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, a son of Mitchel and Ray Eisenberg Kamen. Mitchel Kamen was Jewish and immigrated to the US in 1888 from Russia. The parents of Ray Eisenberg Kamen were also Russian Jews, though she was born in New York and was about 14 years younger than Mitchell. Mitchell Kamen owned a clothing store during the censuses in 1910, 1920, and 1930. The Kamens retained their Jewish heritage and I found records of the bar-mitzvahs of Mitchell and Ray's three sons. I have found indications that Mitchell Kamen shortened his name from Kamenetzky. Samuel Kamen married Edith Segal after 1930. Segal was a well known poet and political activist. Segal was also well known for her career as a dancer. Kamen was a life long resident of Brooklyn.

unnamed, Samuel Kamen, 24" x 18", oil

    Samuel Kamen was a painter, designer and lithographer. He studied at the Art Students League and National Academy of Design. He was best known as a watercolor artist, though many of his abstract and figural works in oils and acrylics have appeared in large numbers on ebay since the mid 2000s.

unnamed, Samuel Kamen, 11.75" x 11", oil on paper

    Samuel Kamen was listed Who's Who in American Art in 1959. His work was featured Artnews in 1946, in the January 1955 edition of American Artist magazine and again in American Artist in 1961. Kamen illustrated several of his wife's poetry books. Kamen's watercolor techniques are examined in Watercolor Your Way by Carl Schmalz 1978 and Watercolor Painting Step-by-Step by A. L Guptill. He exhibited widely, for instance, at the annual exhibition of the American Watercolor Society in 1944. Kamen's work was shown at the 75th Anniversary Exhibition of Painting & Sculpture by 75 Artists at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1951. Kamen was a member of the American Watercolor Society and Brooklyn Society of Artists and received awards for his work from both societies.

    Samuel Kamen's death was reported in Jewish Currents magazine:

Jewish Currents - Volume 49 - Page 40, January 1995 The Kinderland Mishpokhe mourns with the Kamen Family and Edith Segal the passing of her husband, co-worker and helpmate SAMUEL KAMEN (June 16, 1911— Aug. 29, 1995) Sam participated actively in the cultural life of Camp and was our true friend. Board of Camp Kinderland We mourn the loss of SAMUEL KAMEN Artist and friend in the struggle for peace Sheila Cohen Berkowitz Shirley and Dudle Bernstein Doina and Danny Dubinsky Judy and Stretch Jacobs Annette and ...

    Samuel and Edith Segal Kamen are buried in the Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Glendale, Queens County, NY, near Kamen's parents and other members of his family.

    Erisa Yuki is a New York artist. There are a couple of women by this name involved in the art scene in New York City. One of these women exhibited her paintings at the School of Visual Art in 2008. The other is a fashion designer who was active from the mid-1990s to the present and seems to have been known for her wedding dress designs. I am not sure which artist's work this is, if there is a third woman by this name, or if the two artists are the same person.

    John Thomason was born on 14 December 1903 in the Bronx, New York City of an English father and a German mother. His parents were Samuel and Hedwig A. “Hattie” Koch Thomason. Samuel was a successful bricklayer who died between 1920 and 1930. The family was well off enough to have a live-in maid in 1910 and 1920. John was still living at home in 1930, the oldest son in the household. He was a laborer working as a bricklayer at the time as were his two younger brothers. This identification is possible because, in addition to signing his name on the back of one of his oils, he also included his address, 1559 Undercliff Avenue, an address found in the Bronx, New York. The family was residing there in 1920 and 1930 during the censuses.

Signature from "S B Ranch"

        Thomason’s is sometimes confused with John William Thomason Jr., a career Marine Corps officer who was also a writer, artist, and illustrator. I sent images of these paintings and signatures to the Special Collections Librarian at the Newton Library at Sam Houston State University, JWT Jr.’s alma mater. The Library has over 2,000 examples of his work in their collection. The librarian assured me that the work and signature of John Thomason were very different than that of JWT Jr. Judging by the examples that I have seen, the work of John Thomason, the subject of this biography, is much more sophisticated than the work of JWT Jr., who's art seems to be mostly drawings, illustrative sketch work, and a small amount of watercolors mostly used as cover art for his books. To further confuse identification, both men studied at the Art Students League in New York City.

"Johnson Foundry Homes", John Thomason, 15" x 9.5", oil

    John Thomason is listed in Davenport’s Art Reference and Price Guide as a 20th Century New York artist. John Thomason is mentioned in Falk’s Who Was Who in American Art, 3 volumes edition, but I have not yet had the opportunity to examine Falk’s work, so do not known which John Thomason it is. John Thomason was one of six artists who were featured in an exhibition of oils and watercolors called “Exhibition of Paintings by a Group of Six” at a New York gallery, Barbizon-Plaza Art Galleries in 1941. The other artists were David Jacobson, T. Oscar Maine, Arthur Tilgner, Oscar Ralph Weidhass, and Edward Sunquist. This show ran from 22 September – 20 October 1941. All of these artists were active in New York City in the 1940s, though none seem to have gained enduring notoriety.
    Thomason received his early training as an artist in New York City high schools. He also studied at the National Academy of Design, Art Students League, Rochester Institute of Technology, and University of Rochester Memorial Art Gallery under Fritz Trautman. In 1963 Thomason went to Rochester, NY to teach at the newly opened Monroe Community College. He later became the Director of Art there and retired in 1970. His home and studio were on Conesus Lake in Geneseo, NY. His biography appears in Scenes of Monroe and Ontario Counties Past and Present by Anne Peacock-Jacobs. Thomason was active in the Rochester Art Club and Geneseo artists' groups. He exhibited in Rochester and New York City.
    John Thomason died in January of 1985 in Geneseo, New York.
  

    Walter Lynn Mosley was born in 1960 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and now lives in Brooklyn, NY. He received a BA in Art from San Jose State University and attended the Art Student's League. He studied under Bob Gerbracht, Maynard Stewart, and Frank Mason. He is a member of the Salmagundi Club, fellow of the American Artists Professional League, and a signature member of the New York Plein Air Painters. I like that every painting he does seems to be personal and unique to him, and he explains the location, context, and intent of the work as he did for this painting:

    Mr. Mosley has a website and a blog. He sells his work under the ebay id of wlmartist. He does daily paintings and sells them on ebay, many of them plein air, as the painting above is. Capturing light is one of his motivations and one of the things that strongly draws me to his work.

    Mosley also included a short paragraph about his motivation for this painting which is another thing that attracts me to his work. Even though these are plein air oil, which he paints every day, he takes the time to share his motivations and other interesting information. It is easy to see that he cares about his work and is just not cranking out "a painting a day":

"This was painted just this past summer, in Hyde Park, a National Park, and once the estate of the Vanderbilt family. On the grounds are some of the most exceptional trees to be found in the United States. Prior to the Vanderbilts taking over the area, another wealthy land owner landscaped the area, therefore the trees are several hundred years old and are among the largest of their species in the United States. To read more about the history of the grounds and there trees, and to see a picture of the purple beech tree in the painting itself, click here.

The purple beech gets it's name by the fact that the leaves can take on a deep hue of red-purple. I was drawn to this scene, the composition, by the majesty of the tree itself. In the background, a family of Indian origin picnic on the ground, a standing female figure can be seen with a colorful long flowing pink gown that the women of India are known for. The figures were quickly jotted down in the field (with no further manipulation later in the studio.)"

"Winter Shadows", Walter Mosley, 11" x 14", oil, 2007

    An example of a winter painting without snow. WLM had this to say about this one:

"This was a demonstration for a student and has the quality of spontaneity of a work done in one sitting, all at once - "alla prima". It is a copy of a work by John Singer Sargent, his portrait of Jean Joseph Marie Carries. In the original Sargent signed his name along withe sitter's on the top of the canvas (with the back of the brush) and I likewise signed my copy with "Mosley a/Sargent" in the upper right."