Artist Bio: DONALD "PUTT" PUTMAN 1926 -2007

Internationally known Western artist Donald Putt Putman died last November from complications of pulmonary fibrosis. He was 81.

Known for his energy and witty sense of humor, Putt was a very inspirational artist and a true friend. As a participating artist here at Peppertree in the late 70's and 80's, Putt also held several work shops here at Peppertree to a fortunate group of students.

Putt was born in Spokane, Washington in 1926. Even as a child he was interested in art. Although born in Washington Putt has spent most of his life in California. He went to school in Los Angeles but during his high school career he decided to see the world so he joined the Navy during World War II. After the war was over, Putt was able to win a scholarship to California State University at Fresno. While he was at CSU, Fresno, Putt finally discovered that his true interest was in art and transferred to Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles.

After completing his studies at the Art Center College, Putt joined the circus. He joined Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He started out as a porter, and then became the strongman catcher, and then a comic acrobat. Putt worked during the day but drew and painted the show people, the animals, and the freaks during the evening.

Putt met Bobbie in Florida while he was in the circus. She convinced him that they belonged together. After getting married they traveled around the United States and eventually moved to Los Angeles. It was during this time that Putt became a scenic artist for MGM. He helped in the painting of sceneries for such movies as Mutiny on the Bounty, The Brothers Grimm and The Four Horsemen. Although Putt enjoyed doing the scenery work he wanted another challenge.

During the 1960's, Putt taught at the Art Center College. It was at Art Center College that Putt discovered that he truly loved to teach and he says that teaching a person to paint and help to shape their artistic talent was and still is the greatest moment of his life. Several of Putt's students have even become famous themselves and Putt would like to believe that he had something to do with it.

Paintings of Putt's hang in the Rochester Museum of New York and the Whitney Museum in Wyoming. Other galleries include: the Trailside Americana Fine Art Gallery in Jackson, Wyoming and Scottsdale, Arizona; the Genoa Gallery in Genoa, Nevada; Shared Visions Gallery in Del Ray, Florida; The Gallery Gabrie in Pasadena, California; and Tribal Treasures Gallery in Victorville, California.

In his later years Putt devoted his time fully to his painting, doing occasional shows and teaching art workshops at his home near Yosemite National Park. Putt was a member of the Yosemite Western Artists art organization based in Ahwahnee California. During the last years of his life Putt painted regularly at the historical Gertrude Schoolhouse with the YWA painting group.

Donald "Putt" Putman will be sorely missed by all who were fortunate enough to have met him and the entire art community.