Hal Frater Paintings

Hal Frater's "The Artist as a Young Man" is a striking oil on canvas that captures the essence of the artist himself, rendered in a raw, emotive style. The palette is earthy, with natural browns and creams contrasted against subdued blues and hints of muted red, evoking a sense of both the mundane and the profound. Frater's use of color and form reflect a contemplative mood, a moment of introspection. The artist's gaze is direct and unflinching, suggesting resilience and a deep inner life. This mid-20th-century piece, evocative of American Realism, offers a personal narrative, exploring themes of identity and self-perception. Frater’s technique—visible brushstrokes and a textured application of paint—adds a tangible depth to the work, inviting the viewer to consider the artist's inner world and the time in which he lived. About the Artist: Hal Frater was not just an artist, but a storyteller who left us on February 3, 2008, on the cusp of his 99th birthday. His fifty-year tenure as a commercial artist was a testament to his adaptability and appeal. Yet it was in his private studio where Frater’s true passion lay — painting not for clients, but for his own soul's expression. His work, always striving to capture the nuances of the human spirit, reflected his sharp observational skills. His artistry was honed not in formal schools, but alongside his peers in spontaneous gatherings, painting from life, sharing techniques and critiques that fueled their collective growth. Influenced by the likes of Jack Levine, Raphael Soyer, John Sloan, Thomas Hart Benton, Reginald Marsh, and Phillip Reisman...

Hal Frater passed away on February 3, 2008, just a month from celebrating his 99th birthday. Hal Frater had a long and prolific career. He became a sought after commercial artist for over fifty years . All the while he would return to his studio and paint for himself rather than his clients. Yet he always retained his illustration roots in wanting to tell a story on canvas with his keen eye of observation on the human condition. Often he would join fellow artists in informal sessions and paint from a model - no formal art school training but a mutually beneficial learning experience. His contemporaries that influenced him were Jack Levine, Raphael Soyer, John Sloan, Thomas Hart Benton, Reginald Marsh and Phillip Reisman...

11x14 (with frame 19x23) Hal Frater passed away on February 3, 2008, just a month from celebrating his 99th birthday. Hal Frater had a long and prolific career. He became a sought after commercial artist for over fifty years . All the while he would return to his studio and paint for himself rather than his clients. Yet he always retained his illustration roots in wanting to tell a story on canvas with his keen eye of observation on the human condition. Often he would join fellow artists in informal sessions and paint from a model - no formal art school training but a mutually beneficial learning experience. His contemporaries that influenced him were Jack Levine, Raphael Soyer, John Sloan, Thomas Hart Benton, Reginald Marsh and Phillip Reisman...

Hal Frater's "Pink Sky" is a moody landscape that masterfully captures the play of light at dusk. Dominated by a majestic mountain under a vast, dusky sky, the painting is steeped in warm shades of pink and red that wash across the canvas, lending a dreamlike atmosphere to the scene. The dark silhouette of the mountain anchors the composition, while the reflections on the water's surface add a dynamic contrast to the softness of the sky. Frater's brushwork is loose and expressive, allowing the colors to blend and creating a sense of movement within the stillness of the landscape. This work evokes a quiet reflection and the serene beauty of nature, emphasizing the grandeur of the natural world as it succumbs to the tranquil blanket of night. About the Artist: Hal Frater was not just an artist, but a storyteller who left us on February 3, 2008, on the cusp of his 99th birthday. His fifty-year tenure as a commercial artist was a testament to his adaptability and appeal. Yet it was in his private studio where Frater’s true passion lay — painting not for clients, but for his own soul's expression. His work, always striving to capture the nuances of the human spirit, reflected his sharp observational skills. His artistry was honed not in formal schools, but alongside his peers in spontaneous gatherings, painting from life, sharing techniques and critiques that fueled their collective growth. Influenced by the likes of Jack Levine, Raphael Soyer, John Sloan, Thomas Hart Benton, Reginald Marsh, and Phillip Reisman...

Hal Frater passed away on February 3, 2008, just a month from celebrating his 99th birthday. Hal Frater had a long and prolific career. He became a sought after commercial artist for over fifty years and was an early member of the well-know Society of Illustrators in New York City. All the while he would return to his studio and paint for himself rather than his clients. Yet he always retained his illustration roots in wanting to tell a story on canvas with his keen eye of observation on the human condition. Often he would join fellow artists in informal sessions and paint from a model - no formal art school training but a mutually beneficial learning experience. His contemporaries that influenced him were Jack Levine, Raphael Soyer, John Sloan, Thomas Hart Benton, Reginald Marsh and Phillip Reisman...

Portrait Of a Woman Painting - - oil on canvas -- Woman with a Black Hair' Hal Frater passed away on February 3, 2008, just a month from celebrating his 99th birthday. Hal Frater had a long and prolific career. He became a sought after commercial artist for over fifty years . All the while he would return to his studio and paint for himself rather than his clients. Yet he always retained his illustration roots in wanting to tell a story on canvas with his keen eye of observation on the human condition. Often he would join fellow artists in informal sessions and paint from a model - no formal art school training but a mutually beneficial learning experience. His contemporaries that influenced him were Jack Levine, Raphael Soyer, John Sloan, Thomas Hart Benton, Reginald Marsh and Phillip Reisman...

Portrait Of a Women Painting - - oil on canvas Hal Frater passed away on February 3, 2008, just a month from celebrating his 99th birthday. Hal Frater had a long and prolific career. He became a sought after commercial artist for over fifty years . All the while he would return to his studio and paint for himself rather than his clients. Yet he always retained his illustration roots in wanting to tell a story on canvas with his keen eye of observation on the human condition. Often he would join fellow artists in informal sessions and paint from a model - no formal art school training but a mutually beneficial learning experience. His contemporaries that influenced him were Jack Levine, Raphael Soyer, John Sloan, Thomas Hart Benton, Reginald Marsh and Phillip Reisman...