Jeff Kramm - paintings & drawings

I think of my work as a reaction to Robert Bechtle’s deadpan, photo based paintings of American cars and Mel Ramos’ luscious capitalistic babes -- a deadpan parody of heteronormative subject matter. Tit for tat.

I’m interested in realism and exploring its expressive possibilities for the human figure. I’m moved by the physical world around me, especially people, exactly as they look - the imperfections, the beauty, all in as much detail as possible. Through the expressive content of the work I hope to communicate a sense of humanism and the value I place on it.

A photographic source serves as a quick sketch and is unposed and offhand if successful. I always feel like I don’t have the interest or energy to make a "good" or art photograph. I want to spend my time making the drawing or painting as close to what the person looks like as possible...to see how it all turns out, my homage to that particular person's existence.


Volunteer time donated to Hungry Kitty Ltd., hungrykitty.org, and Mission for the Homeless, Inc., missionforthehomeless.org, nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable corporations benefiting stray & feral cats, and Oakland's homeless.



Last modified: September 21, 2021