Esther Rose facts for kids

Esther Rose, Seascape of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Esther Elvina Rose (born April 1, 1901 – died July 16, 1990) was an American artist. She created paintings using oil, watercolors, and even collages. Esther was famous for her beautiful pictures of the California coast, painted in a style called Impressionism.

Esther Rose's Early Life

Esther Elvina Holbeck was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Her parents were John and Hilma Holbeck. John came from Norway in 1883, and Hilma arrived in 1880. Hilma was born in Norway, but her parents were Swedish.

Esther was the third of five children. Her siblings were Ingwald J., Alma Ingeborg, Hilmar Arnold, and Carl Wallace. In 1910, her family lived in Waldo, Lake County, Minnesota. By 1920, they had moved to Two Harbors, Minnesota.

On July 9, 1921, Esther married Frank Archie Rose (1889-1968). Frank was a sergeant in the United States Army during World War I. He was also a sports writer for the Two Harbors, Minnesota newspaper and an amateur photographer.

In 1924, Esther and Frank moved to San Diego, California. That same year, they opened the first Karmelkorn Shoppe in San Diego.

Becoming an Artist

Esther Rose started painting when she was 45 years old. She learned from several talented teachers. She studied with portrait artist Frederick Taubes. She also learned from seascape artist Bennett Bradbury. J. Milford Ellison taught her about watercolors. All of these lessons took place at the San Diego Art Institute.

Esther is especially known for her seascapes. These are paintings of the ocean and coast. She painted the California coast in an Impressionistic style. This style uses small, thin brushstrokes to show light and movement. She also painted still lifes (pictures of objects) and landscapes (pictures of nature).

She used different materials for her art. She painted with oils and watercolors. Besides painting on an easel, Esther also explored other art forms. She worked with silk-screen printing, also called serigraphy or screenprinting. She also created prints and collages.

Esther was a member of several art groups. These included the West Coast Art Association and the Central Coast Art Association. She was also part of the Pacific Grove Art Association in the Monterey area. Later, she joined the Foothills Art Association in La Mesa, California.

Esther Rose's Family Life

Esther and Frank Rose had three children.

• Eugene Dennis Rose became a famous Orthodox Christian monk named Seraphim Rose.
• Eileen Rose Busby became an author and an expert on antiques.
• Frank Rose Jr. became a businessman.

Esther and Frank also had several grandchildren. These include scientist J. Michael Scott. Another grandchild is Cordelia Mendoza, who is also an antiques expert. True crime author Cathy Scott is also one of her grandchildren.

After they retired, Esther and Frank moved to Carmel-by-the-Sea in Northern California. Frank, her husband, passed away on July 30, 1968. Esther Rose died in 1990 in La Mesa, California. Both Esther and Frank are buried at the El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove, California.