Robert Pritchard Surrealism Science Fiction Portrait Mid Century Oil

ROBERT PRITCHARD 1934 - 2016 ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING SIGNED BOTTOM RIGHT AND DATED 1971

CONDITION HAS PAINT LOSS. SEVERAL SCUFF MARKS. STAIN MARKS. STRETCHER BAR WEAR AND SOME CRACKLE LINES. COULD USE SOME VARNISH.

32 BY 40 INCHES

Robert Pritchard

March 14, 1934 – August 21, 2016

The only child of Charlyne and Lester Pritchard, he was born in Kansas City, MO and grew up in Long Beach, California. Always creative, he began seriously painting at age 15.

Robert earned a BFA in painting from USC in 1958 studying with Edgar Ewing and Francis de Erdly. His studies were interrupted in 1955 by Army draft serving two years in Germany working as a mapmaker where he enjoyed vacationing in Paris. Returning to California, he grew his hair long for the rest of his life.

He did four years post-graduate work at UCLA nearly earning a Masters in graphic design and photography but the curriculum changed and he found work as a picture framer in Los Angeles. He became part of the L.A. scene driving his Afghan dogs around town in an MG convertible.

Beverly Hills furniture designer Phyllis Morris saw a painting of his in the frame shop window and signed him as her exclusive artist. Robert became well known from 1965 through the late 1970’s for his large oil paintings of strong-featured women, European scenes and classic cars.A prolific artist, hundreds of his paintings have graced the homes of the rich and famous, MGM Grand Hotel, and have appeared in several movies.

In 1970, he placed a personal ad for a photography model and Cheryl Kerlin answered it. A talented makeup artist, Robert painted her face, costumed her and had many extreme photography sessions forming the basis of later paintings and their relationship. He tried to date her a year later, Cheryl refusing since he was married with a small child. He separated and moved into her small Echo Park cabin. She was 22 and he 37, hippie and beatnik. They married a year later in Pasadena and honeymooned in Mendocino,