Julian Ritter Art Gallery Opening Review – A Lifetime Dream of Michael and Christine Ritter comes true

Julian Ritter’s Life and Art Review – An unknown Artist of worldwide acclaim

Janet Boyd Showgirl Review – the Iconic Showgirl was Las Vegas Royalty

Comment by Greg Autry: Dan Greenburg is a noted author and journalist. He wrote several articles for Playboy back in the 1970s about, and was friends with, Janet Boyd. He sent me the following in an email, after having seen the website here:

Statement of ~ Dan Greenburg

Your Julian Ritter website is very classy looking, and I loved the story of Ritter lost at sea. Very suspenseful and well-told. It beats the “Unbroken” movie.

Comment by Greg Autry: My ongoing endeavors to carry on Julian’s legacy elicited this response from Julian’s daughter, Christine. I was very touched by her emotion, and taking the time to write me.

Statement of ~ Christine Ritter Wells

Hello Greg, I so much enjoyed looking at ALL that you have created & presented on my Father’s Paintings & his Life through your ‘eyes’. I lay in bed last night looking through your Presentations…Kinda got a little heart ache of past memories. THANK YOU Greg, for all your Wonderful Endeavors in preserving the life and works of a Great Painter…my Father Julian Ritter! Sending Good Wishes to You for a Very Happy Holiday Season!

Comment by Greg Autry: The first time I went into Julian’s studio I saw this amazing life size painting of a stunning Las Vegas Showgirl. I immediately tried to buy it. Julian would not part with it. It was the portrait of JANET Boyd. It held a special place in his heart as did the model, Janet Boyd. Through Julian, I was delighted to meet Janet around 1984 and we have become dear friends since.

Statement of ~ Janette Boyd Williams

Julian Ritter came into my life in the late 1960s when I was the lead dancer in a review at the Silver Slipper Casino in Las Vegas Nevada. Julian’s works of clowns and beautiful women were all over the walls of this casino. When you entered the casino, you were greeted by two life size paintings of nudes by Julian.

After Julian’s recovery from being lost at sea, I was honored when he asked me to pose for him as his model which I did for many years. He was very much the master of his craft. The morning light was very important to him to capture correct skin tones.

There are wonderful tales about Julian. He was as colorful in life as his paintings. I was fortunate to be the subject of his famous painting titled ‘Janet’. Copies which have been seen and sold around the world.

For those that are owners of a Ritter they are blessed in my humble opinion to have one of the masters of the 20th century – his eye captured the light and his wit captured life.

I will forever be young in his works — not bad for a vintage dancer.

Comment by Greg Autry: Nancy’s father Joe lived across the street from Julian on Edgewater in Santa Barbara. Joe sold a sextant to Julian, which Julian intended to navigate with on the infamous boat trip on The Galilee. This testimonial from Nancy is about her memories of Julian from childhood, his studio, and the creative energy she could feel there.

Statement of ~ Nancy Greco Erickson

When I close my eyes, I can see Julian Ritter. I was 7 years old the first time I walked through his studio on The Mesa in Santa Barbara. His home and art studio overlooked the ocean and was surrounded by eucalyptus and oak trees; virtually sitting amidst a forest in one of the prettiest cities in the world. Pipe smoke danced in the beams of light coming from tall windows that surrounded his work space. His hand moved deftly from palette to canvas, as he peered through glasses perched precariously on his nose. Surrounded by brushes, containers of turpentine and often a glass of bourbon or scotch he’d move like a slow dancer to his own creative beat. Whenever I smell a pipe or turpentine, this vision peaks back into my consciousness.

Julian worked hard to be the amazing artist he was but he wouldn’t hesitate to paint a clown face on my freckled canvas. All the children in the neighborhood were christened by Julian in this manner. We soaked it up.

Julian loved the female form and once told me how clowns were unique. No two were ever the same. I observed him painting nudes and learned at a young age how an artists interpretation can bring magic to the art connoisseur.

Thank you, Julian, for being so charming, creative, interesting and exceptional to this young mind. I think of you often as I paint and remember your wizardry and unique spirit that you infused in all your work.