Born in 1894, E. Hubert, the eldest in his family, demonstrated a passion for art from an early age. He left Russell to attend the K.C. Art Institute in Kansas City, MO, but when a call for American volunteers arose, he enlisted in the Army in June 1918. He trained at Camp Cody in New Mexico before his deployment to France, where he served with the 109th Engineers, Company B, 34th Division. During his time in France, he engaged in hospital construction work and attended Académie Julian in Paris for four months of art studies. After being discharged on July 21, 1919, Deines returned to the U.S., resumed his art education at the K.C. Art Institute, and worked in the art department at the K.C. Star and Times in Kansas City, MO. During this time, he also pursued a long-held ambition to delve into the realm of Fine Arts. Printmaking had always been his ambition, and after exploring various media through experimentation and self-directed learning, he embraced wood engraving as his primary medium. In 1932 he transitioned to freelance work and dedicated himself to becoming a wood engraver, establishing his studio in the historic Westport area of Kansas City, MO.
Early in his career, he, along with other two nationally recognized artists, was invited to serve on a regional jury responsible for selecting graphic art for the 1939 World's Fair in New York. This jury played a crucial role in presenting American art at the international exposition. According to O'Toole-Ewald Art Associates, Inc., approximately 25,000 pieces of art were submitted and evaluated by different juries, leading to the selection of 1,200 works for exhibition.
Deines was awarded three residencies at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, NH, during the years 1940, 1941, and 1944. The stunning environment and vibrant community of artists and writers inspired his most renowned engravings. In 1955 and again in 1961, Deines was granted Fellowships at the Huntington Hartford Foundation in Pacific Palisades, California. E. Hubert Deines was an active member of the following art groups and national organizations: The Society of American Graphic Artists, Inc.; National Arts Club, New York; Philadelphia Watercolor Club (Print Section), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Prairie Printmakers, Chicago, Illinois; The Print Club of Albany, Inc., Albany, New York; National Academy of Design, New York.
His work has been showcased extensively nationally and internationally. Deines' engraved prints are included in the permanent print collections of renowned national museums, including the Library of Congress, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The National Gallery of Art, as well as other significant institutions. Deines is featured in the publication American Prize Prints of the 20th Century by Albert Reese. For additional details regarding awards and biographical information, you can refer to Who’s Who in the Midwest and Who’s Who in America, published by A. N. Marquis Company in Chicago, Illinois.