Born on a ranch near Aromas, California on Aug. 29, 1884, Lillie May Nicholson graduated from State Normal School in San Jose in 1907 and then taught school in Hawaii (1908-10) and in Watsonville, CA (1910-11). In Watsonville she studied watercolor techniques with L. Minnie Pardee and during the years 1911-16, she was in Japan where she taught at Kyoto and studied art under J. Taguchi.

After returning to California, she continued her art studies at the California School of Fine Arts for five years where she was greatly influenced by Gottardo Piazzoni. During 1921-22 she traveled and painted in Italy and France.

Her marriage to Paul DeWolf in 1925 lasted only a few years. From 1923-38

Source: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
Lillie May Nicholson by Walter Nelson-Rees; Impressionism, The Calif. View; Monterey Peninsula Herald, 4-5-1981.

Nearly 20,000 biographies can be found in Artists in California 1786-1940 by Edan Hughes and is available for sale ($150). For a full book description and order information please click here....