Crowley Art Association's
The Gallery
The Gallery
Harold Letz
Harold Letz is a Crowley native, who graduated from Crowley High School in 1969. As far back as he can remember, Harold liked being out in the country away from civilization. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and exploring, and had hobbies that included gardening, painting and drawing, and learned the art of gem cutting.
He attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA from 1969 to 1973, and earned a BA in Art. Moving to New Orleans in 1974. he worked for a year at Slater's Picture Framing Studio. The following year Harold moved to San Francisco, CA. It was his intention to enroll in San Francisco College and work on getting his Masters degree but, got side tracked and found work in a lapidary shop cutting stones and learning the basics of jewelry making. A couple of years later Harold went to work in the shop of Walter Kentzler, a fine jeweler in Burlingame, CA. There he learned the traditional methods of fine jewelry making, goldsmithing, platinum work, and stone setting. In 1980, Harold returned to Louisiana and went to work for Brandt's Jewelry, where he still works.
Harold began building his own house with his own hands. This left little time for any creative activities. Though he is not finished with his home, in 2007 he decided to return to painting and make it a devotion.
He began by painting a large beachscape, the first painting he done in almost thirty years. A number of paintings followed. He does his work in oil paints, a medium that he is very comfortable with.
Harold's inspiration and subject matter has been the wild areas of coastal Southwest Louisiana - the chenieres, marshes, and beaches of this area. It is there that he hunted, fished, and played on the beach as a child. As a teen, Harold worked on his fathers surverying crew, and developed a greater appreciation for the area.
Harold feels this area of Louisiana is a treasure trove of subject matter that he will use to improve his painting skills for years to come.
He attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA from 1969 to 1973, and earned a BA in Art. Moving to New Orleans in 1974. he worked for a year at Slater's Picture Framing Studio. The following year Harold moved to San Francisco, CA. It was his intention to enroll in San Francisco College and work on getting his Masters degree but, got side tracked and found work in a lapidary shop cutting stones and learning the basics of jewelry making. A couple of years later Harold went to work in the shop of Walter Kentzler, a fine jeweler in Burlingame, CA. There he learned the traditional methods of fine jewelry making, goldsmithing, platinum work, and stone setting. In 1980, Harold returned to Louisiana and went to work for Brandt's Jewelry, where he still works.
Harold began building his own house with his own hands. This left little time for any creative activities. Though he is not finished with his home, in 2007 he decided to return to painting and make it a devotion.
He began by painting a large beachscape, the first painting he done in almost thirty years. A number of paintings followed. He does his work in oil paints, a medium that he is very comfortable with.
Harold's inspiration and subject matter has been the wild areas of coastal Southwest Louisiana - the chenieres, marshes, and beaches of this area. It is there that he hunted, fished, and played on the beach as a child. As a teen, Harold worked on his fathers surverying crew, and developed a greater appreciation for the area.
Harold feels this area of Louisiana is a treasure trove of subject matter that he will use to improve his painting skills for years to come.
