John DeGroot. Print, 8 1/4 by 11 inches.
John DeGroot spent three years at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C., graduating with the highest award in 1933. He then moved to New York City for study at the Art Students League and the National Academy with Leon Kroll and Clifford Beal. His studies completed, DeGroot worked as an artist for the Richmond Times Dispatch and received WPA commissions for murals at post offices in Williamsburg, Virginia, Christiansburg, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. DeGroot moved to Ft. Lauderdale in 1941, bought a home near the river at Cypress Landing, and began painting the Florida scene. In December 1941, he started the Ft. Lauderdale Art Center and School of Painting. Basil Holmes directed the school, which was located in Las Olas Centre, and DeGroot taught the classes.
DeGroot’s folio lithographs of five Florida game fish, including the barracuda, swordfish, dolphin, sailfish, and marlin, were published in Janurary 1949, with the help of Bill Ackerman, well known outdoor writer and author of Goin Fishin, who did the commentary; Joe Reese, Ft. Lauderdale taxidermist; and the Jandon Fine Prints Company of Ft. Lauderdale. DeGroot did a number of murals for night clubs in Ft. Lauderdale including ballet dancers for the Bar of Music, statuesque white horses at the It Club, brilliant fighting cocks and jungle dancers at the Radio Club, and pirates at the Rio Vista. In 1955 DeGoot started manufacturing hand decorated ceramic mosaic tile with Florida motifs. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005.
Education: Corcoran School of Fine Arts, 1933; Art Students League, NYC; National Academy Studio, NYC.
Born: Washington, D.C.
Exhibits: Southern States Art League, 1945, 1st prize, Post Season at Nag’s Head; Lord Tarleton Hotel, Miami; Casa Mona Hotel, Ft. Lauderdale; Brickell Hotel, Ft. Lauderdale.
Directory: Listed in Ft. Lauderdale City Directory, 1954 to 1957, 1960 to 66, as an artist with studio at 1522 S.W. 16th Avenue.
