The Life and Art of Percy Leason
Born in the remote wheat farm district of Lillimur, Victoria, Australia, Percy Leason began his artistic journey with early studies of landscapes, still lifes, and portraits of his family. His formal training began in 1906 as an apprentice lithographer at Sands and McDougall Lithographers in Melbourne, where he eventually moved into the art department to create illustrations for advertisements and labels. During this formative period, he studied at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School under Bernard Hall and Frederick McCubbin. His early career saw him working as a commercial artist and illustrator, producing works ranging from posters for Carlton Brewery to book illustrations for authors like Henry Lawson.
As a painter and political cartoonist, Leason's career spanned two continents. In Australia, he became a significant figure in the tonalist movement, developing a style characterized by tonal analysis. His diverse body of work included:
Transition to the United States
In 1938, Leason emigrated to the United States, seeking new opportunities for his family. Settling in Staten Island, New York, he continued his work in commercial illustration, contributing pen and ink drawings to publications such as the New York Daily News and Blue Book Magazine. He also illustrated The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum in 1938. His professional reach extended to prestigious magazines including Collier's, Liberty, and the Saturday Evening Post.
Beyond illustration, Leason was a dedicated teacher and advocate for realistic tonalism. He established a painting school in New York City in 1941 and later continued teaching on Staten Island until 1957. His artistic interests also included the study of prehistoric cave art, which he explored during travels to France and England. Throughout his later years, he remained a vocal proponent of his technical theories, even as the art world shifted toward modernism.
