John Lawrence Stoner

(California, 1906-1976)

Horse Wranglers

watercolor

Signed lower right, J.L. Stoner

Sight 21 ⅝ by 14 ¼ inches

Frame 29 by 21 ¾ inches

Vintage watercolor depicting horse wranglers framed in golden oak frame under tan double matting. It is in excellent condition.

Born in Sacramento, CA on Jan. 17, 1906. Stoner moved to Montana with his family and attended Great Falls High School. While there, he was a regular visitor at the studio of Charles Russell who had a profound influence on his future work. Upon graduation in 1925, he moved to San Diego where he was a pupil of Otto Schneider and Eugene Devol at the Academy of Fine Arts. From 1930-38 he and his wife, Betty, operated a commercial art business in San Diego while residing in Point Loma. At the outbreak of WWII Stoner began working for Rohr Aircraft Company, a job he held until retirement in 1973. In 1950 he moved to nearby Julian where he remained until his death on Aug. 14, 1976. During the 1930s he made many linoleum and wood block prints. Working in watercolor, oil, pen & ink, charcoal, crayon, and acrylic, he produced landscapes and western genre of cowboys, horses, and Indians. Member: San Diego Art Guild. Exh: San Diego FA Gallery, 1927; Calif.-Pacific Int'l Expo (San Diego), 1935; Calif. State Fair, 1935. In: Bank of America (Julian); San Diego Museum.

Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"