When I find a mural, I look for a signature. This one, at the bottom left, had a familiar name:
I'd heard of Ted DeGrazia, but I hadn't heard of Nick. A son of Ted's, maybe? A Google search this week for Nick Ted DeGrazia turned up a couple of stories: Bonnie Henry's column Ted DeGrazia: Always time for the kids (Arizona Daily Star, June 7, 2009) and a guest commentary in Tucson Weekly by Ron Butler, Buying DeGrazia on eBay: a tribute (July 21, 2005). Apparently Nicholas was Ted's son, and Mr. Butler's article said:Nick, who worked as a boxer and a wrangler, decided to take up painting. He copied his father's work in the simplest of styles, mimicked the colors and of course the very familiar and famous "DeGrazia" signature which, one assumes, he was fully entitled to use.
I took the photos on July 27, 2010.
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7 comments:
I knew Nick Degrazia back in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a character.
He had a girl friend named "queenie" and he hung around Coco's on Campbell Ave (now where Sauce is). He was a good guy and a very good painter. I always thought he was better than his dad. Nick's studio used to be his dad's old studio at Campbell and prince, the South East corner there. They tore it down in the 1990s and put up a Chevron station there. Nick was mad as hell at his step mother for selling that land. It used to have a adobe building and a fence all the way around it made of cactus thorns that the old man, Ted had made. It was was quite a unique place.
I knew Nick as a kid. We attended Catalina High together. He was always a nice guy. We went our separate ways in life after high school. I went into the service and Nick apparently went to St. David years later. I met him and his sister when I was hired to mow his mothers lawn on Ft. Lowell road in Tucson. I met Ted Degrazia through Nick shortly later. This was around 1956 or 57. Lost track of the family over the years, but they were all nice people.
Jerry Shelton - Maumee, Ohio
I don't know how anyone knew nick in the 80s or 50s when he was born in 93. I have an original painting of his on a children's headboard. It's in bad shape buts beautiful. RIP nick.
Hello I found a painting the name N .Degrazia its a clown on the back it says To Dorothy From Nick . The canvas looks older . The name on the back is not signed the same as the front .not sure how to add a picture . I did here he liked to give paintings like this to women . Any info
The guy that said Nick had a girlfriend named Queenie is correct. She lived on Park and Hedrick and I lived across the street. She also had a teenage son named Ragnaw and her real name was Joan and she was from England. I met him in 1980 and would say he was in his late 20s/maybe even early 30s. He was really a nice guy but he did have a drinking problem as did his Dad. Although I never saw him fight, I grew up around fighters in Lowell, Mass. and Nick certainly looked like and had the build if a heavyweight.
Nick was not born in 93. I know this as I attended Flowing Wells High school in Tucson with him. He liked boxing and I still have scars on my lips where he hit me. THIS WAS IN THE FIFTIES AND WE WERE IN THE SAME ART CLASS. The last time I saw him he was painting baby cribs. He also liked to draw horses and liked rodeo. Nick and I were friends.
I found two oil paintings today -8"by10" on canvas-in Real great condition -Of a little girl with A feather-and a little bot with a yellow hat holding Flowers-Both Signed N. Degrazia - Great to get his name from this Page- been Looking all day to find out who ( N) was- finally now I know -He paints just like his Father -I love THem
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