Standish Backus Jr. Biography provided courtesy of “California Watercolors 1850-1970” By Gordon T. McClelland and Jay T. Last.

Standish Backus Jr. (1910-1989)...Born: Detroit, MI

Studied: Princeton University, University of Munich (Germany)

Member: American Watercolor Society, California Water Color Society.

Standish Backus Jr. grew up in Michigan and first started painting with watercolors while studying architecture at Princeton University. Standish continued his art education in Europe and then settled in Santa Barbara. For a brief period in the mid-1930s, Backus took further instruction in watercolor painting from Eliot O'Hara and then opened a studio and painted full time.

Standish Backus Jr. served as an official war artist during World War 11 and produced watercolors depicting naval battles. He also taught art, produced murals and served as the official naval artist for Admiral Byrd's 1955 Antarctic expedition.

Biographical information:

Interview with Standish Backus, Jr., 1983.