Portland painter Leonard Ruder died a few years ago after a long and productive life as a painter. He was born in 1917 in Detroit, Michigan, and studied art at The Cranbrook Academy there. He came west in the 1950’s with his artist friend Hank Kowert to study more, to paint, and to begin his adult life of art, work and family. The basement studio where he painted for years is still intact, and his children are doing an amazing job of organizing and placing his work. Take a look…
When Leonard and Hank first arrived in Portland they had a downtown studio and the photos have just come to light…
Being grid crazy, this painting had a special appeal to me…
especially when I realized it was really plaid…
In the end though, it was the drawings that drew us in…
and this is the one we chose…
After giving many thanks to Leonard Ruder’s daughter Rhea, we said goodbye…
and headed out for a coffee to contemplate our visit…
On The Way 
Bonnie: Your post on Ruder was just splendid. I had never heard of him. You help me make up my deficiencies. Wonderful. George
thank you, Bonnie, for this great post….I looked him up and saw a lot of his work….a great modern artist!!!!
Bonnie, I was looking up Silas Cook this morning and look at what I found: http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2010/11/leonard_ruders_quiet_passion_in_paint.html
After reading this fine article I had an aha! Bonnie’s blog, and sure enough, you covered your and Roger’s visit there splendidly! What a document your blog is. Thank you.