Douglas Graham, born in Jamaica West Indies during the late forties. I grew up in New York City on the lower east side of Manhattan. My earliest memories indicating an interest in art are of being awarded and complimented by my fifth grade social studies teacher for a map I had drawn. At home around the apartment my parents hung framed reprints of famous paintings. I remember admiring several of them and one day hoping to be able to produce a similar painting. One of my favorite was a painting by the Dutch painter, Vermeer “The Milkmaid”.

It wasn’t until after high school that I actually focus on developing my artistic abilities .I took lessons at the Henry Street Settlement Arts Program under the tutelage of Ms. Mary Bonfiglio. I studied with her for about ten years working in pastels, acrylic and pencil.  After several years of absence from the art scene, I resumed my artistic development by enrolling in several classes at the Arts Students League on 57th Street in Manhattan. At the League I majored in oil painting working on life portraits with instructor Oldrich Teply and several others. Then later on added additional classes with instructor Gregg Kreutz. On Saturdays, for several semesters, I also took morning drawing classes and afternoon painting classes at Brooklyn College with the late Lennart Anderson.

 I have lived in the Midwood, Flatbush, Ditmas Park community for more than thirty years. It is presently my home from which I have worked in within the field of public school education. I am now retired and have devoted my free time to focusing on developing my skill in producing oil paintings on canvas with a primary interest in portraits. I have been a member of the Flatbush Artist Studio Tour for over seven years and I intend to continue my association with this group for its direct connection to local communities of Brooklyn. My intentions are to become a community based portrait artist with a minor in both landscapes still lives.