Jeff Ham Biography

Jeff Ham has spent most of his life living and working as an artist. After attending the Central Academy of Commercial Art in Cincinnati and influenced by his father’s success as an illustrator, Jeff fell comfortably into commercial work. While illustrating for books and magazines he began working for ad agencies and moved to Chicago. Such companies as Keebler, Becks Beer, Disney, Marlboro, Cheetos, Bush Beer Budweiser, Haines, Kelloggs and McDonalds have used his work. His illustration for kids books and classics have included, Black Beauty, Frankenstein, Anne of Green Gables, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Jeff had his first one-man show in 2003 at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. An exhibit at the South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois followed later that year. In 2004, he won 1st place at the Heartland Art Gallery juried show in Plymouth, Indiana and exhibited a one-man show at the Heartland Gallery. In 2005, Jeff Ham’s work was accepted at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts juried show, and in 2006, Jeff was featured in the “Spirit of Animals” exhibit at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City, Indiana. In 2006, Jeff exhibited 21 pieces at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. From February through May 2007, Jeff’s work was exhibited at Purdue University. His works are held in institutional and private collections nationwide.

Jeff says, "My father is an illustrator and as a child I would stand on a chair, peer over his shoulder and watch him work. Oils, acrylics, fixatives, markers, and pencils were the aromas of my childhood and to this day give me a sense of comfort and home. Those early years with my father and illustration gave me a solid base in the fundamentals of drawing and painting. Over the years I have expanded on these basic elements and am learning how to express myself more with my heart and less with my head.

I paint what I love, people, animals and sometimes landscapes. I do my best to translate emotion and feelings into color and communicate my individual interpretation of each subject. The work is done quickly and in the moment to capture spontaneity and avoid over thinking and over working. As an artist I am at a genesis of learning to express myself in an honest and straightforward manner."