Like other painters of his time, Christian J. Walter was a self-taught artist. But unlike many of his contemporaries he chose to stay close to the area of his native Pittsburgh. He learned impressionistic technique by studying the art exhibitions that passed through the city. His first major exhibition occurred in 1896 at Premiere Carnegie International Exhibition. Thereafter his reputation among other Pittsburgh artists grew. In 1936 Walter headed the Federal Art Project and helped to found the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh.