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Jim Leatham on the art of outdoor painting

Jim Leatham plein air painting last August. Photo courtesy www.penpap.com.

You see them around the county, strolling through downtown Fish Creek with collapsible easels and sun caps or scattered in front of the Cana Island Lighthouse at sunset. Often, during my waitressing shifts at Wilson’s Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor, I spot the artists across the road with paintbrush in hand, attempting to capture the historic building – Door County’s plein air painters.

“That was us,” says Jim Leatham, the director and creator of the Peninsula Plein Air Painters, now called the Door County Outdoor Painters. He holds a cup of coffee, wearing a red apron streaked with paint as he takes me around his home gallery and studio outside of Sister Bay. The garage, stairwell, and upstairs studio are lined with various plein air paintings, featuring a variety of familiar Door County landscapes and subjects.

“This is Fred & Fuzzy’s,” he points to one painting then moves on to the next. “Whitefish Dunes…Nicolet Beach…Cupola House…the lighthouse in Sturgeon Bay. I like painting familiar places that people can look at and say, ‘Hey, I’ve been there.’”

The paintings display characteristics of the techniques utilized by plein air painters: strong brushstrokes, strong color, and strong contrast in value, a term that describes the difference between light and shadow in a painting.

Leatham states that plein air painting differs from studio painting in that “the artist is limited by time, size, and light.” During his plein air painting sessions, he paints for two to three hours, standing with his wooden French Easel, a beach bag containing paper towels and a plastic box with extra paint supplies at his side.

“I follow the light,” he says. “You only have a limited amount of time.” In fact, Leathams’ favorite times to paint include the early morning or evening, when the sun is low.

“The challenge is to see clearly and paint boldly without doubt as to the work’s finished result,” he says.

“Ephraim Spring Morning” by Jim Leatham. Photo courtesy www.penpap.com.

Leatham states that that there are three areas of concentration for plein air painters: “composition, color, and value with a de-emphasis on detail. Detail is less critical.”

A visitor to his studio may notice paintings with obvious greater detail than others. He points out one such painting adding, “I completed this in the studio. When I paint in the studio I use photographs, memory, or sketches. In a studio you are relaxed and can work on a painting for six months if you need to.” Though he commonly opts for the two-to-three-hour plein air paint sessions to complete his paintings.

Upon retirement, Leatham states that he expected to be painting “docks, boats, and nautical themes” in Door County. “But I find myself painting old barns, hayfields, and nature,” he said.

Leatham’s own journey to plein air painting began when he was young.

“I was always interested in art,” he says.

He received a Bachelor of Arts in art and architecture from Lawrence University in 1960 and took up a career in marketing and advertising while continuing to paint. Over the years his work has evolved into a colorful impressionistic style, influenced by instruction at the American Academy of Art and, more recently, from Rodger Bechtold who holds workshops on Washington Island.

Since retiring in 2001 and settling in Door County, Leatham has painted full-time and formed the Door County Outdoor Painters from members of the Door County Art League.

“Out of that group, I organized a smaller group, more serious, more professional painters – not just hobbyists,” says Leatham. Upon inception, the group painted every Wednesday and Thursday at various Door County locations during the summer season. Currently, the group paints year-round, encouraging other artists to participate, learn from the painters, or observe the painters create images from the scenery before them.

In addition to painting around the Door County peninsula, Leatham organizes trips to other Wisconsin locations, including the Whistling Straight Golf Course in Kohler, Wisconsin, which will be featured in the PGA this August.

Leatham says the group is made up of primarily retired professionals and lists the “core” members: “Bill Doyle, a wonderful watercolorist who was an architect; Randy Rasmussen, a retired chiropractor; Glenn Gerber, Rob Williams, and Barb Kenyon. I was in advertising, a few are retired art teaches.

“We are local people trying to support the community with our art,” he continues. “We paint in all mediums: pastel, watercolor, and oil. We are a group of accomplished professional plein air painters.”

From July 19 – July 24, many plein air painters will be out and about around the peninsula as the Peninsula School of Art hosts the 2010 Door County Plein Air Festival, featuring plein air painters invited to participate from across the country.

“We’ll be out there as well,” Leatham said, and every week throughout the year.

Jim Leatham’s Door Images Studio and Gallery, located at 2366 Log Cabin Lane in Sister Bay, is open 10 am – 4 pm, Monday and Tuesday, or by appointment (920.854.4008). For more information on the Door County Outdoor Painters visit http://www.penpap.com.