E.A. Autrey Art

My late, great, father, E.A. Autrey, was a chemist who worked for Santa Barbara Research, an inventor (he has several important patents in his name which his employer owns) a lawyer who practiced as a patent attorney in California as a sideline, a musician, and an artist.  Although his musical talents and watercolor proficiency were not up to the level of my mother’s, I have followed more in my father’s footsteps in my own pursuit of art.  We both prefer the fun of exploring new techniques rather than specializing in any one discipline.

On occasion I had the good fortune to spend some time with my parents in their old age doing art projects together.   This included local trips to draw and paint as well as other explorations.  For example:  I took several copper/acid etching courses at the Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, and wanted to do some etchings with my father.  He had neither copper plate nor acid in his apartment at Rossmoor.  Ever the chemist/inventor, he rigged up his bathroom sink so we could etch on stainless steel plates with electricity.  It worked quite well!

This collection is only a sample.   E.A. Autrey’s art output is minimal in comparison to that of my mother.  Some of his art, including a self-portrait made with enamel on copper, which was then cut up up into pieces and reassembled, I do not have a record of.  But these are some of my favorites!