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Gene Mater Biography | Portfolio
Gene has a multi-colored past: the Bethlehem artist, long known for his “live” caricature drawing, began his artistic career in 1971, as a political cartoonist for college newspapers. His efforts shifted in the late seventies to commercial work, and to book and magazine illustrating, primarily for Rodale Press. It was an illustration assignment for Backpacker Magazine that led him to experiment with watercolors. After ten years as a self-taught commercial artist, cartoonist and illustrator of books, magazines and newspapers, Gene took up studies of classical drawing and painting at the Barnstone Studios. In the early 1990s, Gene turned his attention to landscape painting with a very challenging medium, watercolors. Paintings of rural Northampton and Lehigh Counties were followed by renderings of intimate views of Bethlehem’s Burnside Plantation and the Moravian Quarter. He came under the spell of early nineteenth century British master watercolorists Thomas Girten and John Cottman, both founding members of the Norwich school of painting. He continues to employ their layering of colors, and their muted pallets, in his work today. Gene Mater’s work has been called soothing and serene, even “dream-like,” reflecting earlier, more peaceful times. The subjects and muted palette suggest tranquil moments from a time long ago. Bethlehem’s Moravian buildings lend themselves easily to Gene’s treatment. Gene’s studio and home are in West Bethlehem. |
