About artist James Lockhart

James Lockhart, artist and conservationist

“As a people we have conquered a continent and the frontier exists no more. No longer can we live off the land and move on. We must preserve and manage, for unlike our fathers we can no longer move on to unspoiled areas.”

Lake Forest resident James Lockhart’s award-winning talents, hobbies and dedication to the preservation of our dwindling wildlife combine to earn for him a reputation among many authorities as one of America’s foremost living wildlife artists. Ninety-one year old Jim Lockhart has created award-winning paintings that can be found in many of America’s finest private art collections and museums. His works have an ethereal, almost spiritual quality that sets them apart from other celebrated wildlife artists. He has often been referred to as a present-day John James Audubon (1785-1851).

Jim spent most of his boyhood in rural Arkansas hunting and fishing along the lower Mississippi River. Venturing to Chicago in 1933 to study art at the American Academy of Art and the Art Institute, the artist’s creative fires were fueled. Early in his career, Jim made his living as a magazine illustrator. His artwork was regularly published in magazines such as Saturday Evening Post, Coronet, Liberty, Collier’s and Reader’s Digest. He is also the author and illustrator of two acclaimed publications, Portraits of Nature and Wildlife America. Gradually, the demand for his work increased. Thus, the artist established “Walden Press” in the early 1960’s in order to maintain quality control over the production of prints reproduced from his original casein paintings. He also became an innovator through experimentation in developing new techniques for color separations. Many might also recognize Jim’s wildlife studies reproduced on tins and boxes packaging high-end food products. This successful entrepreneurial endeavor, known as “Market Square Food Company” was founded in 1982 by Jim and his son David.

Enjoying his active retirement, Jim is finally doing what he has always dreamed, “I’m painting for my own enjoyment and now I can paint the things that most interest me. I’m more enthusiastic about painting than I have been in years! Whenever possible I work directly from nature or from the specimens of animals and birds. I spend much time in the field gathering these specimens along with native grasses, leaves, rocks and bits of nature’s background. I know the habits of most of the animals that I portray. If they are unknown to me, I turn to the museums or zoos and get the best information from the curators.”

Cheryl Hahn, Gallery Administrator for the Illinois State Museum, eloquently speaks of Jim’s work: “Compositionally, the artist’s most recent paintings have grown from smaller vignettes into complete statements that often incorporate elaborate details of flora and fauna… Lockhart brings the personal touch of an artist to his work through the poetic use of shadow, composition and subjective matter.” In a word, the works are stunning.


James Lockhart, artist and conservationist “As a people we have conquered a continent and the frontier exists no more. No longer can we live off the land and move on. We must preserve and manage, for unlike our fathers we can no longer move on to unspoiled areas.” Lake Forest resident James Lockhart’s award-winning talents, hobbies and dedication to the preservation of our dwindling wildlife combine to earn for him a reputation among many authorities as one of America’s foremost living wildlife artists. Ninety-one year old Jim Lockhart has created award-winning paintings that can be found in many of America’s finest private art collections and museums. His works have an ethereal, almost spiritual quality that sets them apart from other celebrated wildlife artists. He has often been referred to as a present-day John James Audubon (1785-1851). Jim spent most of his boyhood in rural Arkansas hunting and fishing along the lower Mississippi River. Venturing to Chicago in 1933 to study art at the American Academy of Art and the Art Institute, the artist’s creative fires were fueled. Early in his career, Jim made his living as a magazine illustrator. His artwork was regularly published in magazines such as Saturday Evening Post, Coronet, Liberty, Collier’s and Reader’s Digest. He is also the author and illustrator of two acclaimed publications, Portraits of Nature and Wildlife America. Gradually, the demand for his work increased. Thus, the artist established “Walden Press” in the early 1960’s in order to maintain quality control over the production of prints reproduced from his original casein paintings. He also became an innovator through experimentation in developing new techniques for color separations. Many might also recognize Jim’s wildlife studies reproduced on tins and boxes packaging high-end food products. This successful entrepreneurial endeavor, known as “Market Square Food Company” was founded in 1982 by Jim and his son David. Enjoying his active retirement, Jim is finally doing what he has always dreamed, “I’m painting for my own enjoyment and now I can paint the things that most interest me. I’m more enthusiastic about painting than I have been in years! Whenever possible I work directly from nature or from the specimens of animals and birds. I spend much time in the field gathering these specimens along with native grasses, leaves, rocks and bits of nature’s background. I know the habits of most of the animals that I portray. If they are unknown to me, I turn to the museums or zoos and get the best information from the curators.” Cheryl Hahn, Gallery Administrator for the Illinois State Museum, eloquently speaks of Jim’s work: “Compositionally, the artist’s most recent paintings have grown from smaller vignettes into complete statements that often incorporate elaborate details of flora and fauna… Lockhart brings the personal touch of an artist to his work through the poetic use of shadow, composition and subjective matter.” In a word, the works are stunning.	People Music Director Board of Directors Administrative Staff Pre-concert Lecturer

James Lockhart, artist and conservationist

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