Jimmie Lee Sudduth (1910 - 2007)

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Pieces for sale by Jimmie Lee Sudduth

Jimmie Lee Sudduth was a prominent Southern Folk Artist. Born in 1910, he painted all of his life. Jimmie Lee passed away on September 2nd, 2007. When he was a little boy, he used to paint with a mud, sugar, paint and natural pigment mixture that his mother gave him the "recipe" for. Having no money for art supplies, he would mix in grass, leaves, berries and other natural pigments to attain the color he was looking for. He used the recipe throughout his life, although he mixed paint   in with his "sweet mud" mixture on his later works as well as natural pigments. He sometimes sprinkled glitter on to a finished painting before it was dry. 

A lot of his early works were lost as he just left them outside wherever he painted them and the weather destroyed them. His paintings are very stable when kept indoors though. Collectors have been acquiring Jimmie Lee's work for decades with no degradation in the materials of his work whatsoever. As you can tell from the pictures presented here, the color and texture of his work is just outstanding.

Jimmie is an artist-in-residence at the New Orleans Museum of Art, a distinction he shares with Mose Tolliver and Bernice Sims. His work has been shown in many of the finest galleries and museums throughout the United States and abroad.

Jimmie's younger cousin Seebo managed Jimmie's affairs for him. Seebo took very good care of Jimmie for many years and we owe a debt of gratitude to him. Seebo  retired from Goodyear Tire and Rubber in New Orleans and lived in Alabama with Jimmie. We thank the Lord that Seebo looked after Jimmie. There are a few videos with Seebo in them further down the page. 

In our opinion, Jimmie Lee was one of the most brilliant Folk Artists America has ever produced.  We considered Jimmie Lee a valued friend. Our personal collection includes many  of his early works as well as a few exceptional recent works. We hope you enjoy this selection and find something you like. 

Jimmy was featured in a Raw Vision Magazine article :

Where The Good Mud's At...

Click on the Links or graphics below to see videos of Jimmie Lee

Jimmie Lee 1

Talking Bout Atlanta

Seebo & Toto

Drawing for Emily

Talking Bout Color

Teaching Art

Drawing a little girl

Jimmie's Scrapbook

Seebo, Emily, & Toto

Drawing a little girl 2

Jimmie's Scrapbook 2

Seebo & Toto

Drawing a little girl 3

Talking to the Camera

Drawing a little girl 5

Drawing a little girl 4

About Painting

Jimmie the Actor

90th Birthday

Bourbon Street

Doctor Visits

Graveyard

Grist Mill

Jimmie's Fingers

Minnie Pearl

New Orleans

No Nails

Weed Colors

Jimmie the weed Doctor

More about Weed Doctoring

Pieces for sale by Jimmie Lee Sudduth