 James Lee Clutter is primarily known as James Lee Colt
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An example of work by James Lee Clutter
Artwork images are copyright of the artist or assignee
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Biography from AskART:
| James Colt was forever the teacher of the philosophy behind great
art. This quote from him sums up the core values of his life works:
“Every great painting has it’s own ‘Tour De Force’. It conjures up
human perceptions of fear, nostalgia, peace, or horror. You want to be
sure you can back up your profundity of thought graphically. You want
to set up an anxiety and tension in the viewer.”
James L. Colt was born James Lee Clutter on December 18, 1922 in
Kansas City, Missouri. He changed his name to James Colt in 1977. His parents were Edna Frances and Chester A.
Clutter. His father died in 1926, and his mother, Edna, remarried in 1927
to Harold M. Haskin. Colt moved to Southern California with his
mother, step father, and older sister Marian between 1927-1930.
He loved to sketch and paint as a young boy. His early years
were spent in San Jacinto, California and in Arizona near the San
Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. He attributes his concentration on
the 1870 era in his western paintings to his family history. His great
grandfather was in the cavalry in the Civil War. His grand parents
entered Oklahoma Territory to participate in the opening of the
Cherokee Strip. An uncle was a Rough Rider with Teddy Roosevelt at San
Juan, and another uncle was a farrier in Springfield, Missouri.
The educational background and qualifications of James Colt
include formal training in classical art. He has earned both an A.A.
degree and a B.A. Degree. In addition, he studied at both Otis and
Chouinard Art Institutes. His ability to execute transparent watercolor and gouache were self-developed.
The professional achievements of James Colt have been recognized by his election to membership in three societies:
Society of Illustrators, New York
Pastel Society of America, New York
American Artists Professional League, New York
His work has been exhibited in the National Art Club of New York as a
charter member of Pastel Society of America and in the American Watercolor Society shows
at the National Academy galleries in New York.
Colt's style of painting is best described as Semi-Abstract
Impressionism. The vast majority of his works were western acrylics
and watercolor gouache. Colt’s best sellers during the 1970’s were paintings depicting
race cars, bull fighting and westerns. Almost all of his paintings
displayed both movement and drama.
He was an
art teacher with his own studio in the mid 1960’s through mid 1970’s
where he taught around 30 students per week in Newport Beach, California.
Colt's Impressionist style was influenced by two Spanish artists,
Velasquez and Goya. His greatest influence was also his teacher in the
1950’s and 1960’s, Sergei Bongart, who was the student of
Nicoli Fechin.
James Colt was fascinated and completely absorbed in his artistic
life style and calling. If anyone could be used as an example of the
label “Eccentric Artist”, it would be James L. Colt. He was able to
connect and express himself to others mainly though his art.
James Colt passed away August 2005 in Palm Springs, California. He was
able to paint, learn, teach and discover new things about his life’s
passion until the day that he died. He will truly be missed.
SUMMARY
1. James Lee Colt – aka. James Lee Clutter
2. Birth Date 12-18-1922, Kansas City, Missouri
3. Death Date 8-17-2005, Palm Springs, California
4. Primary States: California, Arizona
5. Subjects- 1870’s era Old west , cowboys , Indians,
horses, cattle, western landscapes, western towns, ranches.
Mostly depicting movement, action drama of cowboys, Indians, good guys,
bad guys, cattle, horses, stage coaches, trains. 1950’s -1970’s
Westerns, auto racing, bull fighting, some portraits and still life’s.
6. Style of work: “Impressionist”
7. Methods : Acrylic, water color / gouache, oil.
8. National Art Club of New York, NY.
-National academy galleries, New York, NY.
9. Listed in Davenports book of artist.
10. Exhibitions:
July 1983 San Gabriel Fine Art Assoc.
Feb. 1984 Long Beach Art Assoc.
Nov. 1984 Traditional Artists Guild of Paramount.
Mar. 1985 City of Paramount
Apr. 1985 Southgate Art Assoc.
May 1985 Huntington Beach, Chamber of Commerce
May 1985 Chaparral Artist High Desert Playhouse Guild
May 1985 Bellflower Art Assoc.
Sept. 1985 Southgate Art Assoc.
Feb. 1986 The Ebell of Los Angeles.
July 1986 Alumni Assn. of Otis Art Institute
Sept. 1986 Pomona Valley Art Assoc.
Sept. 1986 Associated Artists.
May 1987 Whitter Art Assoc.
Oct. 1987 San Dimas Festival of Western Arts Assoc.
Oct. 1989 Southwest Arts Festival.
Oct. 1990 Western Images Invitational Art Show.
Oct. 1993 29 Palms Artist Guild.
Oct. 1995 Chaparral Artist High Desert Playhouse Guild.
11. Associations:
Society of Illustrators, New York.
Pastel Society of America, New York.
American Artist Professional League, New York.
12. Art-Related Awards
1971 1st place, Hollywood Bowl by KCET PBS Los Angeles.
Nov. 1984 1st place, Traditional Artists Guild of Paramount.
Apr. 1985 “Popular Award”, Best of show; Southgate Art Assoc.
May 1985 1st place, 2nd, 3rd, Honorable Mention, Huntington Beach Chamber of
Commerce.
May 1985 1st place, Chaparral Artist High Desert Playhouse Guild
Nov. 1985 1st place, Traditional Artists Guild of Paramount.
Feb. 1986 1st Award, the Ebell of Los Angeles.
Apr. 1986 1st Award, Southgate Art Assoc.
May 1987 1st place, San Gabriel Fine Arts Assoc.
Oct. 1987 “Louis L’Amour Award.” San Dimas Festival of Western Arts Assoc.
Aug. 1988 1st place, San Gabriel Fine Arts Assoc.
Aug. 1989 1st place, Peoples Choice, La Quinta Southwest Art Festival.
Oct. 1990 1st place, San Gabriel Fine Arts Assoc.
Oct. 1991 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead.
Oct, 1993 1st Place, 29 Palms Artist Guild.
Oct. 1993 Best of Show, Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead.
Oct. 1995 1st place, Chaparral Artist High Desert Playhouse Guild.
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Biography from AskART:
| The following, submitted June 2003, is from Harold Barber:
"I have recently acquired a w/c-gouache done by James L.Colt in 1993. On the back is the following bio sheet:"
JAMES COLT
The educational background and qualifications of
James Colt include formal training in classical art. He has earned an
A.A. and a B.A. degree. In addition, he studied at both Otis and
Chouinard Art Institutes. His abilities in executing transparent
watercolor and gouache are self-developed.
The professional achievements of James Colt have been recognized by his election to membership in three societies which are:
Society of Illustrators, New York
Pastel Society of America, New York
American Artists Professional League, New York
His
work has been exhibited in the National Art Club of New York as a
charter member of Pastel Society of America, and in the American
Watercolor Society shows at the National Academy Galleries in New York
James
Colt attributes his concentration on the 1870 era in his western
paintings to his family history. His great-grandfather was in the
Calvalry in the Civil War. His grandparents entered Oklahoma
territory to participate in the opening of the Cherokee Strip. An
uncle was a Rough Rider with Teddy Roosevelt at San Juan. Another
uncle was a farrier in Springfield, Missouri.
James Colt was born in Kansas City, Missouri. His early years were spent in San
Jacinto, California and in Arizona near the San Carlos Apache Indian reservation.
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