The Realism We Lived With. How a Generation of Painters Shaped the Art People Chose for Their Homes — and Still Choose Today

There’s a kind of art history that lives in textbooks and museums, and then there’s another kind — the kind we live with. The kind that hangs over fireplaces, down hallways, and in quiet corners of a home. Art that doesn’t demand explanation, but instead offers familiarity, comfort, and beauty.

While Bill Alexander and Bob Ross were teaching people that they could paint, a parallel group of artists was quietly shaping what people wanted to paint — and what they wanted to live with. These painters weren’t chasing trends or academic approval. They were painting realism that felt approachable, believable, and deeply human.

This is the story of that quieter movement — the realism many of us grew up with, and the realism people still choose for their homes today.

Gary Jenkins — The Floral Poet Who Never Stopped Painting

Gary Jenkins painted flowers as if they carried their own personalities. His petals curve and open with intention, his colors glow softly, and his compositions feel romantic without becoming rigid. His work helped define what decorative realism looked like in countless homes.

What many people don’t realize is that Gary never stopped. He continues to paint and teach today, most often in Sedona, Arizona. With the right timing — and often the right budget — it’s still possible to paint alongside him. His more recent works are represented by a Sedona gallery, where collectors can see how his style has matured while remaining unmistakably his own.

Every so often, he appears on social media with a short demonstration or reflection — gentle reminders that his love for teaching and painting never faded. Gary didn’t just help define a movement; he carried it forward with consistency and care.

Joyce Ortner — Keeper of the Sea and the Science of Waves

Joyce Ortner (1939–2015) devoted much of her artistic life to the ocean. Her seascapes weren’t just emotionally compelling — they were structurally sound. Waves broke the way waves truly break. Light reflected the way water naturally carries it.

That deep understanding led her to appear on The Joy of Painting, where she taught viewers the anatomy of a wave during Season 5, Episode 9. Few artists could explain such complexity with that level of calm clarity.

Her work continues to circulate through auctions, including seascapes from the 1980s featuring northern lights and breaking waves. Joyce helped shape what people expected a seascape to look like — honest, balanced, and believable.

Robert Warren — A Gentle Bridge Between Worlds

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Warren_(artist) stood comfortably between classical realism and accessible instruction. His work carried structure and restraint, but his teaching welcomed painters who wanted to understand why something worked, not just how.

For artists ready to grow beyond the basics without losing joy, Robert provided a steady path forward. His influence helped many painters move deeper into realism without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated.

He built a bridge quietly — and countless artists crossed it without even realizing they had.

Buck Paulson — When Realism Carries Weight and Drama

Buck Paulson brought intensity to realism. His skies move. His compositions carry momentum. His paintings remind us that realism doesn’t have to be soft to be meaningful.

While Buck is less publicly active today, his work continues to sell and his teachings still circulate. His influence remains strong among painters who want realism to carry emotion, power, and presence.

He proved that realism could command attention without losing integrity.

Mary Carole Larson — The Steady Heart of Modern Realism

Mary Carole Larson represents the quiet strength of this movement. She continues to teach actively, holding workshops throughout Georgia, Tennessee, and Indiana, and occasionally from her own home studio.

Best known for her portrait work, Mary has the rare ability to guide artists through virtually any subject. She works in both oils and acrylics, and her teaching focuses on understanding form, value, and expression — not formulas.

I had the pleasure of painting with her myself last November in Georgia. It was a wonderful experience filled with generosity, insight, and steady encouragement. Artists like Mary don’t chase attention — they build confidence, one painter at a time.

Looking Ahead — Carrying the Movement Forward

Movements don’t end. They evolve.

Artists like Kevin Hill represent how this realism continues today — carrying approachable techniques into finer detail, layering, and modern refinement. His workshops remain highly sought after, and his influence continues to shape a new generation of painters.

My own work lives within that same continuation — rooted in traditions that made painting accessible, while shaped by years of growth beyond them. This is not the end of the story. It’s an opening.

There are many more artists still carrying this realism forward, and over time, their stories deserve to be told as well.

Why This Movement Still Matters

This wasn’t realism for critics.It was realism for people.

These artists shaped what beauty looked like in everyday life. They painted work people wanted to live with — then and now. Their influence remains quietly present in homes, studios, and the hearts of painters who continue to value realism, beauty, and meaning.

That legacy continues every time someone chooses art not because it’s trendy, but because it feels right.

Keeping those Happy Trees Alive!

Thank you for reading, Like by pushing the little heart below, and all comments are enjoyed.

Hope.