Biography

Clarence K. Chatterton, known as C.K. Chatterton, was an American painter born in 1880 and who passed away in 1973. He was renowned for his realist style, capturing the essence of small towns and coastal scenes in upstate New York and Maine. His work in oils, watercolors, and gouaches was celebrated for its directness and ability to convey the interplay of light and shadow. Chatterton's paintings often depicted everyday scenes, such as narrow streets with trolley cars, which he rendered with a sense of warmth and human presence. Chatterton studied at the New York School of Art, where he was mentored by prominent artists like Robert Henri and Walter Appleton Clark. Among his peers were notable figures such as Edward Hopper and Gifford Beal, with whom he shared a studio and a friendship. His career also included a significant tenure as a professor of art at Vassar College, where he taught life drawing and other techniques. Chatterton's work continues to be appreciated for its honest portrayal of American life and its ability to capture the beauty in the mundane.