William Jurian Kaula, working in both watercolors and oils, was renowned for capturing the New England landscape in its true form by allowing the mood of the scene to dictate the tone of the painting, while adding or subtracting details to heighten natural effects. His consistently achieved an illusive gossamer delicacy in his landscapes.

Kaula was born on the 19th of September, 1871 in Boston, Massachusetts, where he lived throughout the majority of his life. He attended the Massachusetts Normal Art School, now called the Massachusetts Art School of Boston, as well as the Cowles Art School in Boston.

He taught watercolor at the Cowles School while still a student there. During the years 1891-1896, he studied in Europe at the Académie Julian while working at the Atelier Colorassi. Upon his return to the United States with his wife and fellow painter Lee Lufkin Kaula, he established a studio in Boston as well as one in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, where he kept a summer home.

Kaula belonged to the Guild of Boston Artists, The Boston Art Club, The Boston watercolor Club, and the New York Watercolor Club. He died on the 26th of January, 1953.

Source: Web-site of Comenos Fine Art

William J. Kaula (American, 1871-1953):

Kaula is one of the finest impressionist landscape painters from the Boston school. He was born in Boston in 1871 and lived most of his professional life in Boston and in New Ipswich, New Hampshire. He studied at the Mass Normal Art School, the Cowles Art School, the Academie Julian in Paris with Collin, and with Edmund C. Tarbell at the Museum School (Boston). Tarbell became his most admired mentor and oftentimes the two painted side by side in New Hampshire.

Kaula was a member of the Boston Art Club; New York Water Color Club; Paris Art Association; Boston Water Color Club; Boston Guild of Artists; President, Boston SWCP and the American Water Color Society, but he decided early in his career not to participate in too many groups because it took too much time from painting en plein aire.

Kaula exhibited extensively throughout his career, winning a medal at the Pan-Pacific Exposition of 1915. He met his wife/artist Lee Lufkin Kaula (known for her portraits and genres of children) in Crecy, France, in 1894 and they married in 1902. The couple maintained a studio-home in the Fenway Studios on Ipswich Street, Boston, from 1905-1953. Before he died, the Copley Society gave Kaula a one-man show. His work is represented in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Kaula's plein aire landscapes prior to 1925 are more tightly executed with small taches and luscious strokes of paint than his later canvases. During the 1930s, the artist developed a style that was expressionistic, using less brushstrokes and painting compositions that depicted large expansive skies rolling over New Hampshire hillsides. Kaula is considered one of the best landscape painters who trained under Tarbell. Known as a "Tarbellite" (despite the fact he did not paint figures or interiors), Kaula maintained a position of esteem in the Boston art circles. He died in 1953.