James McLean
(1904-1989)

James McLean was born in 1904 in the rural foothills of the North Carolina Mountains. McLean knew early on that he wanted to study art however there were very few opportunities in North Carolina. In 1923, following the death of his father, the young artist answered an ad to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. His submission was accepted and he spent five years studying under noted artists Daniel Garber, Charles Garner and Joseph Pearson. A Cresson Scholarship allowed McLean to travel during one summer to Italy, France and Germany.

On completing his education, McLean returned to North Carolina to open the Southern School of the Creative Arts in Raleigh in 1929. This early effort towards art education was short lived with the subsequent stock market crash and the Great Depression however McLean continued to be active in teaching art throughout the rest of his career. During the 30’s he worked on a number of WPA projects including murals for universities, high schools and libraries. The artist was very active up through the 1950’s. His primary artistic style was American impressionism as it was taught at the Pennsylvania Academy. He experimented throughout his career with other styles but always returned to the North Carolina mountain landscape as his subject of choice.

Mordecai House ink on paper 1934, 8.5 x 11 inches

Contact Gallery C at 888-278-3973 or art@galleryc.net for available work.