Charles Beckendorf

Naturalistic Texas Black Tailed Prairie Dog Black and White Animal Print

1960s

Charles Beckendorf, during the 1960s, was thinking about launching his first series of prints, the public was not as educated in art as they are today. Beckendorf knew that his subject matter would have to appeal to the majority. He also knew that his products had to be priced so that anyone could afford to purchase what he created. Beckendorf felt that if people started buying inexpensive prints and visiting art galleries, they would develop a taste for art and in time would become serious art buyers. He was right…. People have developed a taste for quality art. Beckendorf grew up in Mathis, Texas, where he had the opportunity to spend hours on large ranches. Generous land owners gave him permission to wander freely over their ranches and he observed creatures in their natural surroundings. Beckendorf developed a lifelong love of nature, whether it be in the tiniest of flowers or the largest of animals. It was at this time that he became a true naturalist. Art classes were not offered in the Mathis schools, and most of Charles’ teachers were annoyed with his innate interest in drawing. Beckendorf was told that he would never amount to anything if he just sat around the drawing. After graduating from high school in 1948, Beckendorf enrolled in the University of Corpus Christi and delightfully discovered that he could actually major in art. He later attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos (now Texas State University). It was there that he met his future wife, Dawn Laurence. After a year in San Marcos, Beckendorf decided to enlist in the U.S. Air Force and serve during the Korean War Conflict. Beckendorf and Dawn were married in 1951. A few years later- after Beckendorf left the Air Force- they moved to Austin, and he enrolled in the University of Texas where he earned a Fine Arts Degree. For several years, Beckendorf worked as a technical illustrator. He then did advertising art and illustrations for many companies including Lone Star Beer and Texas Game and Fish Magazine. In the early 1960s, Beckendorf and Dawn moved their family- which now included five children- to Houston. Beckendorf did a series of pen and ink prints as a trial to see if there would be an interest and to see if anyone would buy them. There was indeed interest and they sold very well. In 1965, the Beckendorfs moved to the Texas Hill Country near Fredericksburg. Beckendorf released his second series of prints which were also from pen and ink drawings of animals. He sold these prints wholesale to different businesses- sporting goods stores, restaurants, icehouses, art galleries- throughout the state of Texas. Beckendorf then individually watercolor 100 of each of the 13 subjects. Since these hand watercolor prints sold out quickly, he realized there would probably be a demand for full-color reproductions of paintings. Since clients from around the state traveled to Beckendorf’s residence outside of Fredericksburg to purchase his prints and paintings, he thought perhaps he should have a gallery in town. Beckendorf said, “Any fool artist who opens an art gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas, should open on April Fool’s Day.” On April 1, 1971, Beckendorf and Dawn opened their first gallery. From the very first black and white prints of 1964 through April of 1996- when Beckendorf passed away- he painted thousands of originals in all mediums, produced over 1500 different prints, sculpted several bronzes and created six books. The legacy of Charles Beckendorf lives on in his art.