Paul Kratter

I was born in San Francisco, and raised on the peninsula. I spent my youth outdoors playing baseball and tennis and indoors drawing my favorite athletes and wild animals. After graduating from high school I attended College of San Mateo, where I got a degree in graphic arts. I spent four years of hard work and fun at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA graduating with a BA degree in illustration in 1980.

I began freelancing as a commercial illustrator the day after graduation and continued for 22 years. My two great passions were sports and wildlife. I was fortunate to make a living mainly in advertising, which included a long relationship with the national football league and various major league baseball clubs.

The latter part of my career I concentrated solely on wildlife illustration. I worked for a variety of zoos, the nature co., a museum in Alaska and a variety of children’s books including “the living rainforest” an award winner in communication arts annual.

In 2002 I got bit by the plein air bug and started painting in the east bay hills near my home. I soon had a collection of works and at the urging (shoving) of my wife began to enter pain outs and contact galleries. My style changed almost over-night although my approach remained intact, good solid drawing and a strong use of graphic elements.

I participate in a number of plein air events annually in California. Each has its own unique typography, light and challenges. A group of artists got together in 2005 to pain in the footsteps of Edgar Payne in the eastern sierra mountains. We packed in our supplies and hiked to nearly 10,000 feet painting the majestic peaks. We plan to make this an annual event.