Raffi Jacobian

I grew up in San Francisco, Ca. My father was an artist and illustrator. My second teacher was Diego Rivera, the famed Mexican muralist, in 1939 and 1940 at the San Francisco World's Fair. In 1942 I studied under Abel Warshawsky of Carmel, Ca. I also attended the California School of Fine Art in Ca. I first exhibited at the Metcalf Gallery in Pasadena (no longer there) in 1945. I also exhibited at the Bognar Gallery in Los Angeles (no longer there). I studied again under Manuel Tolegian of Sherman Oaks, Ca. I participated in many group shows in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Throughout the years, I dealt with art galleries in California and Oregon. For twenty years I dealt exclusively with the Fisher Gallery in Palm Springs, Ca. After the gallery closed, I accepted private commissions which included portraits, landscapes, architectural renderings and rural scenes of California. I have raveled throughout Europe, Canada and the former Soviet Union, gathering material for my paintings. At present, I am trying to expand the market for my paintings through the internet. I work in oils, watercolors and charcoal drawings. My style is realistic but shows impressionist influence. I have a large number of paintings on hand since I no longer deal with art galleries.

I feel that art should show scenes from everyday life in a way that people can relate to. For me, modern art does not appeal to my personality or training. I try to evoke moods and feelings through the use of color, perspective, composition and subject matter. Although I have studied with many different artists, I have always felt that being myself is what is important to me. My work is in many homes throughout the country, so there are people who have been impressed enough to buy my work. I take particular joy in painting street scenes, trying to create a feeling of mystery for the night scenes and a feeling of warmth in the day scenes. I have always tried to let the viewer see the world through my eyes. I think that is fundamental in my paintings and drawings. My style does not lend itself to wild splashes of color that show the viewer nothing to reflect upon. Color is very important but must not be misused. That is my primary criticism of contemporary art. The impressionists were experts with color but unlike today's artists, knew how to draw. I admire their work greatly.