Ephraim Natkins
Ephraim "Eph" balanced a successful career as a mechanical engineer with a lifelong passion for art. While operating his own engineering consulting company, he remained deeply committed to painting and drawing throughout his life. He began studying at the Art Students League of New York in 1937, became a member in 1951, and devoted himself to the League for more than seven decades. For nearly 50 years, he served as the monitor for the League's Saturday life drawing class, carefully timing the models' poses until shortly before his death in 2008.
Although Eph initially worked primarily in oils, often using his paintings to offer thoughtful and sometimes wry commentary on social and political issues, he also created humorous cartoons inspired by his experiences as an engineer. In the late 1950s, his artistic focus shifted to watercolor and pastel drawings, where his keen observation and distinctive sense of humor continued to shine.
A lifelong New Yorker, Eph was born and raised in Manhattan, educated at the City College of New York, and spent many years living in Jackson Heights, Queens. In 1944, he married Glen Nass, the love of his life. Their 64-year marriage was filled with devotion, and together they raised four children and welcomed four grandchildren.
Eph's artwork was exhibited at the Art Students League's Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, and following his death, the League honored his lifelong dedication with a memorial exhibition of his work. The recognition reflected the deep respect he earned within the League's artistic community after more than seventy years of commitment to his craft.
For Eph, art was never simply a pastime. It was a lifelong pursuit that remained an essential part of who he was, leaving behind a body of work that reflects both his keen intellect and his unique perspective on the world.
