Charlene in her studio

Charlene at the Santa Barbara Beach Show

Charlene Kraft, although virtually a self-taught artist, has studied with Marilyn Simandle, Eda and Joyce Pike. She began her career painting in pastels, moved to oils and then found her forte in acrylics.  She loves the versatility of acrylics whereby she can render a painting as if in watercolor but acrylic can also have the appearance of impasto oil.

Mrs. Kraft's beautiful crisp floral paintings conjure up visions of white wicker furniture and English chintz.  Her clients tell her she cheers their homes and makes them smile.  One faithful client has purchased 26 paintings.

Her tile designs can be seen in homes throughout the United States and her paintings hang in the United States, Europe and South America.  She has been represented by galleries in Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa and San Diego.

Charlene has written and illustrated two children's books entitled, "The Adventures of Mortimer Mouse" and "Ickabeth".  She formerly taught in elementary school.  She resided in England for four years and taught in an "infants" school there.

She is a world traveler and has hiked in the Himalayas and the Alps.  She has traveled extensively in Europe and Asia.  Mrs. Kraft enjoys living in Santa Barbara.  She has one granddaughter, Rebecca, who is attending UCLA and studying art.

Her favorite artist is Modigliani and she bestowed homage to him by painting a very close version of many of his portraits.  She also admires the old Japanese masters who painted the fascinating geisha girls and she has painted many herself.

Go to her website and view her work at www.charlenekraft.com.

An artist's yarn:  All of us artists have favorite stories and this is one of mine.  A little girl about 10 years old at the beach show came up to my display and asked how much my little paintings were and I told her they were 25.  She said she wanted one for her mother and one for her grandmother.  She gave me a dollar and wanted her fifty cents change.  I said that I guess I had not been very clear but they were twenty five dollars each.