Biography: Hardie Gramatky, N.A. (1907-1979) Born: Dallas, TX; Studied: Stanford University, Chouinard Art Institute (Los Angeles); Member: National Academy of Design, New York Water Color Club, American Watercolor Society, California Water Color Society. Hardie Gramatky was raised in Southern California. He studied art with F. Tolles Chamberlin, Clarence Hinkle, Pruett Carter...... read more
"This watercolor is now owned by a family member who treasured that this one was of the first views of the "Little Toot" tugboat before Dad had the idea in October 1938 to write a children's book about the little tugboat who didn't want to work. He was first transfixed by looking out his studio window (on Pearl Street) and watching the busy harbor with all the boats, and he started painting the scene and then the idea for a book came to him. One Moran tug truly was in the way of the other big boats and making figure eights and not doing a bit of work!"
Courtesy of daughter-Linda Gramatky Smith
