Creator Record
Images
Metadata
Name |
Walker, Herman |
Dates & places of birth and death |
Born 1944 |
Nationality |
American |
Notes |
A Texas Artist who was active as a painter and sculptor of Western genre from 1973 through 1989. He sold his work on the Western art show circuit through Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma, and was best known for his paintings and watercolors. Herman Walker spent his formative years in the ranching country of West Texas. He received his degree in Animal Science from Texas Tech University. While at Tech, he became very interested in the art of sculpting. After graduation, Herman worked for a manufacturing firm and in his spare time concentrated on learning casting techniques. In 1973, Herman and his family moved to Kerrville and opened a gallery and foundry. It was here that his art career began to blossom and he began painting. In 1978, the family moved back to the ranch country near Eldorado to be close to Herman’s subject matter. "I paint here because of the people, this land and my feeling for it. Ranch life is lived on the cutting edge. In this region, nature doesn’t always deal kindly with man. The men and women who live on this land must be strong in character and able to face adversity. There is joy, beauty and satisfaction of the good times as well as the agony, loneliness and desolation of the bad times. A force and strength within the people, the animals and the land itself is so vibrant. I try to paint this and hope that those who know will be able to say, ‘That’s the way it is’." After a decade in the art field, Herman’s work was well known and in many collections throughout the country. Just when it seemed that his career was about to reach a new plateau, the art market took a serious downturn with the economy of the mid to late 80’s. With two children in college and the art market growing increasingly fickle, Herman was faced with a career change. Herman started doing construction work to offset some of his expenses. The demand for his skills increased and soon Herman was not only doing remodels but new construction as well. He continued with this business for the next twenty years. In 2008, Herman and Deanne moved back to Kerrville to be near the grandkids. Once again, Herman picked up the paint brushes and began his never forgotten love……painting! "The faces have changed and many of the old large ranches are no longer in existence, but the people, the animals, the land remain. The memories run deep. The beauty still remains and entices us to ride over that next hill and see what we came here for." |
Role |
Artist |
Titles & Honors |
Hill Country Arts Foundation - Board of Directors 1976-77 Fine Arts Council, Kerr County Chamber of Commerce - Chairman 1975-1976 Kerr County Fine Arts Trail - Organizational member - Chairman 1976 "Art of the Hills" – Founding member 1976 – Chairman 1976-78 National Western Artists – Founding Board member 1982 – President 1985-1986 American Plains Artists – 1986-1990 NWA Bronze Award – Oil Painting-1983 NWA Bronze Award – Drawing-1983 NWA Silver Award – Oil Painting-1986 NWA Germany Tour of Western Art-1987 American Plains Artist – Golden Spur Award-1987 & 1988 International Western & Wildlife Show – Chicago, IL – Merit Award-1985 |
