Harry DeSales Reefe - Harry Reefe's Handwritten Note on his Training and his Art at age 57

TRANSCRIBED BY NORA LEA ROGERS REEFE, daughter-in-law

Renoir has always been an influence in my painting since I first learned about him many years ago. In fact, in my maturing years (I am 57 years old) I sometimes feel that he has not only been an inspiration but a nebulous instructor who guides my brush. Forgive me for this unrealistic approach, ass an expression of reason to paint because realistically I started drawing and painting as a boy of six, when my parents gave me a set of oil paints for Christmas. I was the despair and envy of my first grade class who I abandoned to their crayons. Since then, art has been my career. Studied at the Art Institute in Chicago under Oskar Gross, also the American Academy of Art worked as a set designer for Paramount Studios under Cedric Gibbons while in California, Volland Calendar Co. of Joliet IL and spent many years with Container Corp of America as a staff artist. At the request of many of my customers for paintings for their homes, I received many commissions from such people as Mr. George Borg of Borg Warner Corp, Mr and Mrs Meytheyler of Chicago, Mr and Mrs Carvel James (the former actress Norma Talmadge) of Las Vegas NV, and Ft Lauderdale FL.

Presently I am exhibiting in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco and Locally at Palm Beach, Roca Raton and Ft Lauderdale. My paintings are in the luxury model apartments of Arvida Corporation which ay be seen at the new Sabal Ridge Apartment Building in Boca Raton and also in the lobby of this building, and at their Boca Inlet apartments the long murals in the lobby.

Among the Boca Raton families, Mr and Mrs. Oxley of Tulsa OK, Mr and Mrs Edward Brady of York PA, Mr and Mrs. John Crandall Mr and Mrs Robert Matlack Mr and Mrs Walter Dahm just to name a few Boca Raton is now my home. Mrs. Reefe and I alternate between here and Europe where I spend a month or so in Paris gathering my materials for future paintings.