After Crash, Life Seemed a Blank Canvas

John R. Koser, a recognized watercolor artist, may never have pursued his award-winning career were it not for a near-fatal accident 25 years ago.

The 74-year-old artist was a noted dentist when he fell off his motorcycle in an accident that bruised the inside of his leg, causing blood clots that threatened to end his life.

After several surgeries and physical therapy, Koser decided to leave his “extremely regimented” dental practice after 17 years of filling, capping and extracting teeth.

“I probably wouldn’t have had the guts to quit dentistry if I hadn’t had the accident,” Koser said Tuesday at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, a museum exhibiting his artwork starting Saturday.

“I should have done it sooner,” he said, adding he wanted to be an artist since he took his first painting lessons at age 12. “Dentistry really was my parents’ choice.”

The Fullerton resident, who is noted in local history as Buena Park’s first full-time dentist, is making his mark in the art world. He wrote “Watercolor: Red, Yellow and Blue” and has become known for his style and mastery of transparent watercolors.

Koser has sold more than 1,500 paintings. Most of his paintings that will be displayed at the Muckenthaler belong to private collectors.

The paintings feature Koser’s series of lighthouses, portraits, doors and, his favorite, ships. “[Ships] symbolize the ability to stand up to the elements and face adversity head on,” he said.

Katherine Chang Liu, another nationally recognized artist, said she admires Koser’s passion for his second career. “He is very dedicated,” she said. “He’s regarded with great respect. He paints with his heart.”