1906 – 1997
Theme/Style – California Style, geometric Abstraction
Media – Watercolors
Artistic Focus – His spare, eloquent style; his use of clean, flowing masses of rich and vibrant color; and his directness and spontaneity are hallmarks of the work of watercolorist George Post – one of the foremost interpreters of the Northern California landscape. Works by Post look simple, but upon closer inspection prove to be masterfully composed, in spite of their spontaneous, on-site creation, offering a creative use of color and light that establishes a definite mood. George Post’s career showed a steady progression, from early demonstration of his talent to the highest mastery of the watercolor medium in his later years.
Career Highlights –
- Born in Oakland, California, in 1906, George Post studied at the California School of Fine Arts from 1924 to 1926, and began exhibiting his watercolors of the Bay Area and the Mother Lode country in the early 1930s.
- During the Depression, Post worked for the Works Progress Administration, and considered this one of the most satisfying artistic periods in his career – enjoying the freedom it gave him to travel throughout California to paint the local scene as he refined his style.
- Post’s first one-man show was held in 1931, and he was one of the artists represented in the inaugural show of the San Francisco Museum of Art in 1935.
- Two years later, he was one of just two Northern California watercolorists to be included in the cross-country tour of The California Group.
- Post served at Fort Mason in San Francisco during World War II, working as a chart maker and stowage planner while still creating about 30 paintings each year.
- Post also taught throughout his career, first at the Art Students League in San Francisco, and later at Stanford University, San Jose State College, and the California College of Arts & Crafts. In addition, Post traveled the world widely both for inspiration and to teach.
- Post’s work is held in a number of major collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, which purchased his Mojave Desert in 1940 as part of its Hearn Fund acquisition program.
- A lifelong resident of San Francisco, George Post passed away there in 1997.
Selection of Works by this Artist
Bibliographic references are available upon request.