'Ferns and Mushrooms' by Louis Macouillard, Art Students League, California College of Arts and Crafts, San Francisco Art Association

Description

Signed lower left, 'L. Macouillard' for Louis Macouillard (American, 1913-1987) and painted circa 1975.

Louis Macouillard was born in San … more Signed lower left, 'L. Macouillard' for Louis Macouillard (American, 1913-1987) and painted circa 1975.

Louis Macouillard was born in San Francisco, of French descent, and first graduated from Polytechnic High School and the California College of Arts and Crafts (1934) before further study at the Art Students League in NYC. Returning to San Francisco, he became art director for the Velvetone Poster Company and maintained a studio on Hotaling Place. He began painting scenes of San Francisco in watercolor during the 1930's and also worked in mosaics and as a muralist.

He exhibited with success including at the Oakland Art Gallery (1934, now known as the Oakland Museum), and at the San Francisco Art Association (1935). During WWII, he served in the Navy in the South Pacific and produced many artworks of that area which were featured in a six-page spread and cover of the October 1943 issue of Life magazine. As well as fine art, his work included book illustrations and the designs for two U.S. postage stamps (Daniel Boone & San Antonio). Macouillard was also a skilled yachtsman and hand-crafted one of the first trimarans to sail on San Francisco Bay. He continued to paint in his later years which were divided between his homes in San Francisco and Sonoma County.

Reference: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940" less