Springtime by the River

Description

Beautiful oil painting of a California springtime river scene by Ralph Edward Joosten (American, 1928-2009). Signed "R. Joosten" lower left. … more Beautiful oil painting of a California springtime river scene by Ralph Edward Joosten (American, 1928-2009). Signed "R. Joosten" lower left. Unframed. Image, 24.25"H x 18"W.

Mr. Joosten was an accomplished artist and photographer who lived in Santa Cruz, California for many years. He studied painting at the California School of Fine Art and was one of the second year students to take the new courses in Photography designed and originated by Ansel Adams with Minor White as the teacher. He earned a BFA and teaching credential from the California College of Arts and Crafts and a master's degree in painting from New York University. He studied at Winona School of Photography, 1950-1954. He spent his early years in San Francisco, where he held a one-man photography exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 1957. He traveled extensively, taking trips to Yosemite and Carmel with Ansel Adams and John Weston and learning wood block printing and Japanese brush painting in the Kyoto Gardens in Japan. His photographs are considered fine examples of the black and white photographs of the period.

Mr. Joosten taught at schools on the Peninsula and adult education classes in Sacramento and Santa Cruz. He loved to dance and socialize with friends, visit art museums and watch and critique movies. Those close to him describe him as a "class act" and a caring friend who had a clever sense of humor and a flair for color and style. less