WatsonCross Jr. biography provided courtesy of “California Watercolors 1850-1970” By Gordon T. McClelland and Jay T. Last.

Watson Cross, Jr. (1918- )...Born: Long Beach, CA

Studied: Chouinard Art Institute (Los Angeles)

Member: California Water Color Society.

Watson Cross, Jr. grew up in Long Beach. He studied with James Patrick, Phil Paradise, Henry Lee McFee and Rico Lebrun in Los Angeles during the 1930s and early 1940s. During this period, Cross began exhibiting California Style watercolors, which usually depict cityscape subjects. Works from the World War 11 era often include war related activities in Southern California. In the late 1950s and 1960s, his watercolors became abstract and often included figures.

Cross exhibited in many annual museum exhibitions and was president of the California Water Color Society in 1953. Watson has been an influential art instructor at a number of schools including Chouinard Art Institute, Otis Art Institute and Art Center School.

Watson Cross Jr. biographical information:

Interview with Watson Cross, Jr., 1983.