Biography
W. Truman Hosner (American 1950 – )
Detroit, MI / Paso Robles, CA
William Truman Hosner was born in Detroit, Michigan, and earned his BFA at Wayne State University. He went on to study illustration at the Center for Creative Studies, College of Art and Design in Detroit where he eventually returned to teach. Over his 17 years as a professional illustrator, his assignments included, among others, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, General Motors, Ford, Field and Stream magazine, CBS-Fox Video, and Reader’s Digest.
At the peak of a successful commercial art career, Hosner re-focused himself: studying under two master painters at the Scottsdale Artists School: Harley Brown and Dan Gerhartz. Soon, plein-air painting captured his passion. For two decades Hosner was fortunate to have the personal mentoring of Max Altekruse, himself a student of the renowned Frank Reilly of the Art Students League in New York City.
To date, Hosner has achieved uncommon success with his fine art paintings. He was the first ‘Grand Prize’ winner in the Pastel Journal International Pastel 100 competition. He received: ‘First Prize’ from the French Pastel Society in Giverny, France; ‘First Prize’ from the Pastel Society of America in New York City; a ‘Best of Show’ from the Pastel Society of the West Coast, Best of Show-Northern Colorado Artists Association, and Best of Show for a Body of Work/Festival of the Arts -Paso Robles, CA -Quang Ho, juror.
Paintings by W. Truman Hosner have been featured in national and international museum exhibitions and collections ranging from New York City . . . to California . . . to Canada . . . to France and Spain. . . and Asia.
“Painting exclusively from life, the integrity of Hosner’s art is never in question as he conveys through his works the evolving moods and dynamics that can be captured only through the art of plein air painting.”
-Harry Goldson, Suttons Bay Galleries
“During an open-air painting session, everything is in constant flux with the light continually modulating. As my painting slowly evolves, if I am successful, it will become dynamic, and pulsate with the energy before me, as the exuberance of the plein-air experience implants itself into the work.” -Truman Hosner
Professional Affiliations
- Master Pastelist -Pastel Society of America
- Distinguished Pastelist -Pastel Society of the West Coast
- Maitre Pastelliste -Societé de Pastel de L’est du Canada
- Master’s Circle -International Association of Pastel Societies
- Member -California Art Club, Pastel Society of America, Pastel Society of the West Coast,
and ASPAS-Spain
Pro Bono Work
- Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit – For 10 years Hosner spent one day per month drawing portraits of the young patients in their rooms and gifting the drawings to their families.
- Petoskey-Harbor Springs Community Foundation – Hosner founded the
- Café Society Educational Fund – a scholarship to assist Northern Michigan coffee house
baristas with needed funds to pursue higher education. - Traverse City Symphony Orchestra – Hosner donated the entire proceeds of an auction portrait commission, approximately $8,500 to the symphony.
Experience
- Over 50 years of experience as a working artist (20 of which were in Illustration)
- International Art-Workshop Teacher/ US, Taiwan, Spain, Canada, France, Mexico
- Published Art Author, and Lecturer
- Bachelor of Fine Arts/Wayne State University, Detroit
- Post Graduate Studies-Illustration/Center for Creative Studies, Detroit
- Former Faculty/Center for Creative Studies-College of Art and Design, Graphic Arts
- Post Graduate Studies-Painting/Scottsdale Artists School
- Current Faculty/Scottsdale Artist School
Highlights
- Foreign Guest of Honor – Salon International, Art du Pastel en France/Giverny, France
- US Artist Delegate-Curator -International Pastel Biennial-International Exhibition in Oviedo, Spain when the United States was invited as the Country of Honor
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei, Taiwan – Pastel Society of Taiwan
- Artist-in-Residence – Les Amis de Grande Vigne / Dinan, France
- Hillsdale College, MI – Solo Exhibition / Sparkle with Repose -44 Works of Art
- University of Michigan Hospital Gallery – Solo Exhibition / Gifts of Art Program
- National Taiwan Arts Education and Economic Office, NYC- Featured speaker at the
- Exhibition, honoring the United Nations International Women’s Day.
- Crooked Tree Art Center Petoskey, Michigan – Before Their Eyes -Four Artists in Plein Air – Christensen, Gerhartz, Dellinger, and Hosner.
