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ARTIST STATEMENT
I have developed a strong interest in and appreciation for the plein air [outdoors, on location] painting opportunities found in the wide variety of land and seascapes throughout the Door County peninsula. The many farms, barns and open fields — especially when they are populated with hay rolls — are among my favorite subjects along with the familiar harbors, villages, lighthouses and marinas.
I prefer the early morning hours and evening for outdoor painting when the sun is lower to the horizon creating maximum light/shadow possibilities. Working outside in nature, exposed to the changing weather and light enhances the senses and gives me the freedom to interpret my subject and paint quickly. The challenge is to see clearly and paint boldly without doubting the finished result. I like to begin a new work at the start of each session and, with weather cooperating, usually complete the painting within 3 hours or less. I use gessoed masonite or linen panels in 3 standard sizes: 9"x12", 12"x16" and 16"x 20".
My enthusiasm and passion for the process is as important as the end result. Treating each effort as an enjoyable learning experience is as exciting as a good finished painting. Plein Air encourages me to pay attention to composition and balance within the painting, create greater emphasis on value and color and to give less importance to detail. This approach produces more vigorous and energy-charged brush strokes, which I think give an added vitality to the finished work.
Finally, painting en plein air allows me to paint my emotional response to what I see. Transferring that response to the canvas is what I hope others find interesting in my interpretations of the landscape.
ARTISTS BIOGRAPHY
After nearly fifty years of vacationing in Door County Jim Leatham returned in 2001 to the peninsula to pursue a life-long dream of living and painting landscapes on a full-time basis.
Jim was first exposed to the Door County artist’s community in 1960 after graduating from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin with a BA degree majoring in Art and Architecture. His representational style of painting was influenced by Tom Dietrich, professor/Artist in Residence at Lawrence, as well as the paintings of Gerhart Miller and Austin Fraser, two of the most recognizable painters of Door County. Over the years spending many summer vacations painting the many harbors, farms, and villages Jim had his first exhibit at the Hardy Gallery, Ephraim in July, 1973.
In the late 70’s Jim continued his art education taking watercolor instruction in the evenings from Irving Shapiro at The American Academy of Art in Chicago. More recently Jim has taken regular summer oil painting workshops on Washington Island from well know expressionist painter, Roger Bechtold. With the influence of Bechtold Jim’s work continues to evolve into a colorful impressionistic style.
Leatham has become an active member of the art community establishing his Door Images Studio/Gallery where he paints daily throughout the year. He is an active member of the Washington Island Art Association and the Door County Art League where he leads a group of artists throughout the Door County peninsula. He is a regular contributor in activities and exhibits at the Francis Hardy Center for the Arts, Peninsula Art School, and The Miller and Maritime Museums in Sturgeon Bay.
Leatham’s landscape paintings have been accepted into more than 24 juried exhibits, recently receiving the “Special Merit Award” at the Miller Museum’s 30th Annual Juried Exhibit. His work continues to change and progress by way of his weekly plein air painting activities evolving into a distinctive impressionistic style conveying the many moods found in the familiar towns and recognizable scenes of the Door County peninsula. Jim’s work can be seen at the Paint Box Gallery in Ephraim, at his own Door Images Studio/Gallery in Sister Bay by appointment, and at many public venues throughout the peninsula.
EXHIBITS,SHOWS, and GALLERIES
2007-Francis Hardy Center for the Arts
Collection Invitational Artists Exhibit
Annual Juried Summer Exhibit
Selected Artists Studio Tour
2007-Gallery Ten-Invitational Winter Exhibit
2007-Paintbox Gallery-Annual Miniature Exhibit
2007- Guenzel Gallery-Annual Winter Exhibit
2007-Peninsula Plein Air Painters-Founding Charter Member
2007-Door County Art League
Art in the Barn Exhibits: July 5-8; August 17-19; Oct. 5-7
Leader of weekly Plein Air painting group-April to November
Fall Exhibit-Sept.,October, Nov., Honorable Mention Award and People’s Choice Award
Spring Exhibit-May thru August
Links Gallery-June thru August
2006-Miller Museum-31st Annual Juried Exhibit
2006-Barnsite Gallery-4th Annual Barns and Farms National Juried Exhibit
2006-Francis Hardy Center for the Arts Annual Summer Juried Exhibit
Selected Artists Tour
2006 Guenzel Gallery
Annual Winter Exhibit
2006-Paintbox Gallery- Annual Miniature Exhibit
2006-Gallery Ten-Invitational Winter Exhibit
2006-Washington Island-1st Annual Miniature Exhibit
Annual Fall exhibit
2005-Ephraim Historical-Featured Artist/Fundraiser Auction
2005-Miller Museum-30th Annual Juried Show Received Special Merit Award
2005-Francis Hardy Center for the Arts
Common Ground Exhibit-selected artists on the environment
Selected Artist Studio Tour
Annual Juried Summer Exhibit
2005-Guenzel Gallery-Annual Juried Exhibit
Annual Winter Exhibit
2005-Washington Island-Annual Fall Exhibit
2004-Barnsite Gallery-2nd Annua Barns and Farms National Juried Exhibit
2004-Door County Maritime Museum- “Wind, Water, Waves,” Juried Exhibit
2004 Francis Hardy Center for the Arts
Annual Juried Summer Exhibit
Annual Winter Exhibit
2004-Washington Island Fall Exhibit
2003-Francis Hardy Center for the Arts-Annual Juried Summer Exhibit
2003-Brickman Art Center-Park Ridge Il, Door County League Exhibit
PAINTINGS ON DISPLAY
Door Images Studio/Gallery-Sister Bay
Paint Box Gallery-Ephraim
Baileys Harbor Library-Baileys Harbor
Northshore Medical Center-Fish Creek
Dal Santo Restaurant-Sturgeon Bay
Northern Door Dental Offices-Sister Bay
Sister Bay Library-Sister Bay
