Jimmy Lee Sudduth

Born in Caines Ridge, Alabama in 1910, Jim Sudduth began painting at the age of 3. He is best known for his paintings made from dirt and mixtures of berries, grasses, and leaves. Sudduth claimed to be able to obtain 23 colors from the dirt and rocks around his house. The artist would use his forefinger and thumb to smear his concoctions on plywood panels, old boards, doors, and anything else he could paint on. His subjects ranged from Southern mansions to self-portraits, his dog (Toto) and postcard views of New York City.