Helen Hunter (1920-2003) This oil painting design features detailed yellow blue wildflowers that will captivate you.

Helen Crain Hunter was born August 4, 1920, in Pleasanton, Texas. Her mother often said Helen loved pencils and crayons from practically the beginning of her life. Hunter's first art teacher was her cousin, Mrs. Walter Davis Jahn, who also taught her first few years of school. After Jahn left Pleasanton, Helen studied under Ellie Wheeler, a well-known Poteet artist whose teachers were Jose Arpa and the Onderdonks. For two summers during high school, Hunter took classes at the Witte Museum in San Antonio.

After graduating high school as the valedictorian in 1937, Hunter attended Texas Woman's University (formerly Texas State College for Women). While attending school, she was the cartoonist for the daily newspaper, "The Lass-o," and art editor of the college yearbook, "The Dandelion". Hunter was also elected to be a charter member of the university's chapter of Delta Phi Delta, The National Honorary Art Fraternity. In 1940, she was chosen to design three stained glass panels of the Madonna Window for prominent architect O’Neal Ford's "The Little Chapel of the Woods". Hunter received her bachelor's degree in Costume Design and Art Education in 1941.

After college Helen taught art at the local school in Cotulla, Texas. When World War II began, she resigned to join the war effort at Kelly Field in San Antonio as a draftsman. She transferred to Galveston's Army Base for two years, serving as foreman of the engineering drafting department.

In 1946, she married Akridge Charles (Beau) Hunter, a Pleasanton native and World War II veteran. Helen spent four years as advertising manager of Palais Royal, a chain of women's wear stores, while her husband was in dental school in Houston. In 1950, they moved to Pleasanton where Akridge went into business with his father.

Hunter began to paint again in 1957, first studying oils with Ohio artist John Squire Adams for one year, then seven years with San Antonio artist Leslie Larsson. Her work schedule was rigorous, usually including painting at least four days a week. Hunter developed a knack for painting in styles that ranged from impressionism to overt realism. Painting blooming prickly pear cactus, in oils, with realism was her specialty. She gained regional distinction for her renditions of the flora and fauna of arid South Texas, particularly the many varieties of cactus, wildflowers, birds, and brush country landscapes of the area around her.

Helen participated in many juried shows earlier in her career, winning ribbons, prizes and honors including the top award and purchase prize of the Texas Watercolor Society's Annual Exhibition in 1965. She was a member of the Texas Watercolor Society, San Antonio Art League, Coppini Academy of Fine Art, and the Brush Country Art Club of Pleasanton, Texas. Hunter's work is featured in many private collections. Her paintings were on two covers of Independent Cattleman magazine, and in Southwest Art Magazine. Hunter exhibited work in Houston, Corpus Christi, Del Rio, Austin, Pearsall, and San Antonio.



Time era 1976.

Condition is excellent, inner frame has minor spot.

Dimensions
Height: 44 in.
Length: 32 in.
Width: 1 1/2 in.

Used ( excellent)

44 x 1.5 x 32 in