Painter. Born in Baltimore, MD on Jan. 21, 1864.

When Elmer was quite young, the Wachtel family moved to Lanark, IL where he worked as a hired hand and taught himself to play the violin.

At age 18, he moved to San Gabriel, CA where his brother had married the sister of artist Guy Rose and was managing the large Rose ranch. He continued playing the violin and in 1888 became first violinist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

During this period his talent in drawing and painting began to emerge and in 1900 he had saved enough money for one year of study in NYC at the ASL under William M. Chase and in London at the Lambeth School.

After returning to California, he lived in Los Angeles with his parents on Griffin Avenue where he continued to paint in his leisure while supplementing his income as a professional violinist.

By 1903 his reputation as a painter was such that William Keith sent him one of his young pupils, Marion Kavanaugh. It was love at first sight and they married in 1904. Their early married life was spent in a studio on Sichel Street while they later had a studio-home on Mt. Washington until building their final home in the Arroyo Seco of Pasadena.

The Wachtels traveled around Southern California in a specially-built motor car designed to accommodate their artistic needs.

They continued painting and exhibiting together until his sudden death on Aug. 31, 1929 in Guadalajara, Mexico while on a sketching trip.

Wachtel's early works were landscapes done in moody, dark tones; whereas, his palette later lightened and his works became more decorative. He is today considered one of Southern California's most important painters.

Member:

Los Angeles AA (cofounder); Ten Painters of Calif.

Exhibited:

Calif. Midwinter Int'l Expo, 1894; LACMA, 1915 (solo).Awards: prize, Mark Hopkins Inst., 1902, 1906.

Work held:

Laguna Museum of Art. PAP; SCA; Ber; AAA 1907-29; CA&A; AAW; Ben; Sam; So. Calif. Artists 1890-1940; Calif. Design 1910; Art Digest, Sept. 1929 (obit).