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Claire Decker’s Biography

Claire Decker was born Claire Waltner in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She grew up in a very creative, artistic household, the youngest in her family and of her generation. Her family moved to different towns several times in her life as a child.

When asked how long have you been doing artwork, Claire usually replies, "All of my life that I can remember." She was the little girl sprawled on the floor with colors and paper or coloring books. But when she colored her coloring books, they were never done "the way they were supposed to be, she made new lines, changed what was there, and colored in off the wall colors in ways things were not supposed to look."

Most of her youth, she spent studying art as self taught with direction from her mother, Lois Waltner, about the fundamentals or with constructive criticism. In high school, she studied art with Birdie Landry, who taught her line, perspective, and the color wheel. As far as interpretations, Claire developed these on her own.

While in high school and college, Claire began exhibiting art in shows and received awards in several Louisiana shows in Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Many, Natchitoches, and other locations.

Claire has been a freelance artist most of her life, sometimes with simultaneous careers such as real estate, teaching, and writing.

For a number of years, Claire shelved her art career to have and rear children. Then, in 1989 , she received injuries in a car accident, when the car she and her family were riding in was hit by a drunk driver. The head injury she received left her dyslexic with reading and math disabilities. An artist friend suggested then urged her to begin painting again. She did and within 2 years she had her first one-woman show sponsored by the Lafayette High School Academic Honor Society.

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