Jimmy Lee Sudduth Folk Art Painting Gristmill 1970’s

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Jimmy Lee Sudduth was an African-American Folk Artist born in Canes Ridge Alabama. Some very early pieces of Sudduth can … Read more Jimmy Lee Sudduth was an African-American Folk Artist born in Canes Ridge Alabama. Some very early pieces of Sudduth can be found in collections as well as the Fayette, Alabama Art Museum and others. Jack Black who became the Director of the Fayette Art Museum introduced Sudduth to the art department staff at Stillman College, a historically black college in Tuscaloosa around 1969. Soon after Jimmy Lee Sudduths paintings were show publicly at Stillman College in his first solo exhibition. Jack Black was a friend and champion of Jimmy Lee Sudduth. Jimmy didn"t know how to write or sign his name and Jack spent time teaching him.

In the early days Jimmy would paint a picture of a Mansion in Fayette, Alabama sometimes by request of the home owner and sometimes not. In many cases the lady of the house would accept the painting at the front door and walk it right out the back door to the garage or storage building. Older paintings were damaged and lost over time. In the early days you sometimes would find Sudduth pieces at local yard sales around Fayette. In many cases the paintings were turned around and it was just the old piece of wood that was being offered for sale.

From NY Times: A self-taught artist, Mr Sudduth was renowned for the effects he could produce with his own homemade paint, which consisted of Alabama mud blended with a variety of common substances -soot, axle grease, sugar, coffee grounds and much else to lend color and texture. Many applied and worked with his fingers. His art is in permanent collections including the Smithsonian Institution, the High Museum of Art and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts as well as many others less

Notes: Outstanding colors, textures and image on found wood. See less