Duane Alt (b. 1935) American Impressionist Oil on Canvas Painting "...Sun in Sorrento" Signed lower right. Titled on original gallery label on the reverse. Duane Alt came upon his fascination with French Impressionism* in a somewhat indirect way.  During his high school years he worked after school, and on weekends, mixing paints for the scenery painters at the various Hollywood film studios.  While still a teenager, he began his formal art studies at the Chouinard Art Institute* in Los Angeles.

Upon finishing his studies at Chouinard, he was employed as an artist for Walt Disney.   He progressed over the next 25 years in the film industry becoming an art director and production designer with MGM, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Brothers Studios.  Alt worked with such well known Hollywood directors as Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kramer, and Irwin Allen.  During part of that time, Alt also taught art at Chouinard, finding the time in his busy schedule to teach a few art classes in between his studio work.

In 1993, Alt became the only American to be invited to participate in Salon des Artistes Francais* (Salon de Champs Elysees-Paris).  A French jury selected three of Alt's paintings for the over 300 year old "Le Salon" exhibit.

His schooling in the Beaux-Arts* style of painting has given Alt a solid background in traditional impressionism to which he adds his own exuberant style, full of freshness and life.  Many of his canvases have a playful feeling, bringing a joyful quality to one's home.

In the later days of his career, he spends a fair amount of time painting in his studio in the hills above Nice, France.  Living there for most of the year gives him the daily inspiration to put the beauty of day to day life in France onto canvas.   He paints spontaneously everyday, and is able to satisfy eager collectors with a broad variety of paintings featuring many subjects matters, all while capturing the essence of life in France and Italy.

Overall Size: 33 1/4 x 29 1/4 in.

Sight Size: 23 1/4 x 20 1/4 in.

#9085