Henry Martin Gasser was born in Newark, New Jersey on Oct. 31,1909. He lived, studied and worked in New Jersey for his entire life. He was a painter, lecturer, teacher, illustrator and author. A Master at watercolor and oil his work consisted of, in his own words, "everyday subjects that are available to most of us-street scenes, back yards, trees, old houses, etc I looked for them in front of houses, in backyards, public parks, and elsewhere". He also painted numerous harbor and fishing village scenes. His work demonstrated a sense of place and feeling that most could identify with. His Paintings also contain a great deal of what he called "solitary silence" created by chosen subject. He felt that Design was very important and meant the difference between a mediocre work and a truly professional one. It is here where Gasser excelled, his work demonstrates a sense of composition that gained wide spread appreciation for his work. He studied at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art and the Grand Central School of Art. This was followed by study at the Art Students League of New York in the classes of Robert Brackman. He later studied privately under John R. Grabach. During his years in the military, Henry was stationed in the south and became very interested in Southern culture. His frequent trips south provided him with subject matter that was exotic yet familiar. He is represented in over fifty museum collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Oklahoma City Museum of Art and The Columbus Museum of Art-Ohio. Among the awards that Henry Gasser has received are the Hallgarten Prize at the National Academy, the Zabriskie, Osborne, and Obrig prizes at the American Watercolor Society, the Philadelphia watercolor club prize, the Allied Artists Gold Medal at Oakland, California and many others. He was a member of the National academy of Design, the American Watercolor Society, the Royal Society of Art (Great Britain), the Salmagundi Club, the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Watercolor Clubs and the New Jersey Watercolor Society. He was a life member of the National Arts Club, Grand Central Art Galleries and the Art Students League and others. He served as Director of the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art from 1946-54 then continued lecturing and demonstrating for most of the remainder of his life. He also wrote numerous books on painting. He died in South Orange, NJ in 1981.
Henry Martin Gasser 1908-1981
"Western Hills" Oil on board, 12" x 16"