Orrin Augustine White

Orrin White was born on December 5, 1883 in Hanover, Illinois. Although artistically inclined at an early age, White did not pursue an art career until he was in his thirties. After receiving a B.A. degree from Notre Dame University in 1902, he studied textile design at the Philadelphia School of Applied Arts until 1906. A few years were spent as assistant professor of chemistry at Portland University and as a textile designer in his parent's factory. Tiring of this line of work, he moved to Los Angeles in 1912 and worked for an interior design company while painting landscapes in his leisure. When his work was accepted for exhibition at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, he decided to devote full time to painting. His art career was disrupted during World War I when he served as a second lieutenant in the 40th Engineers Camouflage. Upon his discharge, White returned to Los Angeles and from that time earned his living as a landscape painter. Married in 1923, he built a studio-home in Pasadena while making frequent sketching trips to Palm Springs. The Sierras and into Mexico in search of subject matter. White died in Pasadena on April 28, 1969 having acquired national renown.Biography courtesy of DeRu's Fine Arts.