Jeff Watts studied at The California Art Institute where he was soon invited to teach as he began his illustration career in the movie industry. However, Jeff's desire to become an easel painter would draw him back to San Diego where he started a small life drawing and painting studio which has evolved into Watts Atelier of the Arts now managed by Jeff and his wife, Krista. Jeff's oil paintings have won numerous awards including First Place Portrait category and Second Place Landscape category from the Artist's Magazine, two consecutive Second Place Awards at the Salon International Exhibition, three Honor Awards from the Portrait Society of America, 3 Awards of Excellence, Bronze Gold and 2 Silver medals in the Masters Category of Oil Painters of America and 3 Top 100 Awards from Arts for the Parks. Watts's work has been featured in Southwest Art, American Artist, Art of the West, Western Art Collector, American Art Collector, Drawing and Workshop magazines. He holds Master Signature member status from the Oil Painters of America and is a Signature member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and an artist member of the California Art Club. Jeff participated in the prestigious Prix de West Invitational at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City for over a decade and was honored with a Solo Exhibition at the Taos Art Museum and Fechin House. Jeff has focused much of his energy designing and executing an Online Platform which will solidify his legacy as one of the leading contemporary teachers with the goal of "Preserving the Traditions of the Masters".