My maestro, Arthur Bressler, was a student of German painters Max Beckmann and George Grosz. My relationship with him began in 1962 and lasted until his untimely passing in 1975.

My studies in painting and drawing continued at The Art Student’s League in New York City and were followed by an intensive period at l’Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris, France, including two years painting and drawing in Israel, Sweden, France, and Hungary, where my family is from.

The main foundation for a painter is viewing the work of great artists of the past, therefore during my years abroad, I spent a lot of time visiting the great museums of the world and copying from the masters.

I earned my M.F.A in painting and drawing from Washington State University in 1975, where I studied under the renowned American painter, Gaylen Hansen. Upon graduation, I traveled to India, Asia and the Far East to study oriental painting and sculpture. My work has been exhibited in fine art galleries in the United States, Mexico and Europe. Most recently I have exhibited in Ajijic, Jalisco and San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.

As a “plein-air” painter, I paint my subjects on-site. When I travel, these paintings are generally created in gouache, a water-based paint, which dries rapidly and is easily transported. From these completed works, I am further inspired to paint larger oils, which are completed in my studio. Closer to home, I paint on-site in oil.

My work is influenced by several artists and movements in the history of art, for example, the French Romantic landscape painters of the 19th century including Corot, Rousseau and Daubigny. Vincent Van Gogh and the English giants Turner and Constable. From the 20th century, the French Fauves and the German Expressionists, including Lovis Corinth, Oskar Kokoschka, Chaim Soutine and Maurice de Vlaminck have influenced me as well.

Since moving to the Southwest I have had the pleasure of new contacts with the Santa Fe and Taos Schools.  As a result I have also been influenced by Victor Higgins, Fremont Ellis, and Maynard Dixon  among others.

I believe that my paintings are a direct response to my inner needs and my environment. My subjects are traditional in nature, yet gilded with a personal vision. Most recently, my travels have taken me to Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru. I feel that the light and depth of rich color in Mexico and the inner beauty of her people are inspirational, while the beautiful grays and moodiness of the Costa Rican skies and her volcanoes have given me rich sources of exceptional material. Peru has offered its mystery of the Inca culture, textiles and metalwork. Inspirationally, Latin America offers the beauty and mystery of her landscape and people, a very fertile milieu for an artist.

I have recently returned to New Mexico, after having spent five years living and painting in old Mexico, south of Guadalajara. I may be reached at my studio via email: jkbvts@yahoo.com.