Born in Portland, Maine on 14 January 1861, the son of Lydia Libby and Edward Souther Griffin, a successful woodcarver, Walter began studying art under his father.  First, he  learned the techniques of sculpture, carving pictorial bas-reliefs, decorative works and small figures.  Even as a youth, Walter attempted to capture the likenesses of local  mariners who visited his father’s studio and he was allowed to accompany his father on sketching trips with the group.&n (showing 500 of 9693 characters).