My education and career started with The American Commercial Art School. I worked in the commercial art field and sales management. In 1975, the long time desire to get fine art led me to become a weekend painter. I took many classes and workshops from very talented and well known artists. Now that I am retired, I am able to do more plein air painting to improve my landscapes. I also paint from my digital photographs. When doing photography, I look for good compositions or at least with some that I can move around. I also look for good light and dark patterns. It's really exciting when I find a scene to photograph that I think will make a good painting.

Oil painting is my favorite medium, but I also do acrylics, pastel, watercolor and prisma pencil. I belong to many art clubs and serve on the board of three. I have been President of the Association of Traditional Artists, DeSoto Art League and Associated Creative Artists. I have won many awards in the art club award shows. Most recent is the Best of Show in the Association of Traditional Artists 2006 show.

Demonstrating for various clubs in the Northeast Texas area has been fun and challenging. I also started teaching this year. I love to paint and watch the transformation of a white canvas become a work of art.

jakahler@tx.rr.com