The Life and Art of Harry Shokler
Born in Cincinnati, United States, Harry Shokler was a 20th-century American painter who specialized in oil paintings and screen prints. His artistic journey took him from the Cincinnati Art Academy to the streets of Europe and North Africa, including stays in Paris, Italy, Germany, and Kairouan, Tunisia. During World War I, he served as an Army private in Europe, where he designed naval camouflage and sketched portraits of officers and enlisted men. His work was characterized by a realist approach, often described by critics as possessing an "exactness of rendition." He was noted for his ability to capture landscapes, cityscapes, marine scenes, and portraits, with many observers highlighting his skill as a colorist.
Mastery of the Silk Screen
Shokler played a significant role in the development of serigraphy, or screen printing, in the United States. During the 1930s, he was a member of the Silk Screen Unit and later served as a two-time president of the National Serigraph Society. He was a dedicated educator, writing the Artists Manual for Silk Screen Print Making and teaching classes in both New York and Vermont. His technical proficiency in the medium was highly regarded, with some critics calling him a master of the technique. In his later years, he resided in South Londonderry, Vermont, where he operated the Shokler Art Studio out of a restored barn, serving as a local art center and teacher.
