Rocky Coast, Sonoma – oil on board

Who ever heard of an artist who is both a plein air painter and a children’s book illustrator? We have, we have! Paul Kratter is new to Chemers Gallery and we are so glad to carry his work! We were introduced to Paul’s refined-yet-spontaneous plein air oil paintings by our very own Jim Wodark, who brought his Kratter cypress landscape in for one of our very special arts & crafts style custom frames.

Jaguar – oil & acrylic

Paul brings a strong background in drawing and design to his current work. With a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, he began his career in advertising and later moved on to wildlife illustration. He developed his passion for creatures and their habitats into several children’s books, including the award-winning The Living Rain Forest. You simply have to see the detail in these acrylic and watercolor illustrations to believe the realistic, “animalistic” textures!

Partners, Point Lobos – oil on board

Almost overnight, Paul’s painting style changed once he began exploring the world of plein air oil painting. With a plethora of subject matter outside his door in the East Bay Hills of northern California, Paul enjoys the challenge that painting outdoors offers him. Constantly changing elements of light, cloud and wind force him to make decisive brush strokes allowing the finished paintings to shine with a fresh spontaneity.

Paul makes annual excursions into the High Sierra Mountains with a group of fellow artists and illustrators. (You may remember Jim Wodark’s stunning paintings from those yearly trips!) The opportunity to explore the remote lakes, meadows and mountainsides has proven to fuel Paul’s creativity.  Beautiful landscape, evocative atmosphere and the paintings of renowned artists Edgar Payne, William Wendt and Carl Runguis inspire Paul to stretch his imagination and explore the world though canvas and paint.