Earl Kittleson’s interest in art began at an early age when he was taught how to draw by his older sister. Art ability runs in his family; his sister became an artist in her own right, working for Walt Disney. Earl was further encouraged by his Peckham Junior High School teacher, Dorothy Meredith and his Washington High School teacher, Alice Gutsch.
After completing his Army stint, Earl entered Layton School of Art (BFA 1956), University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (BS 1957, MS 1961) and has attended courses at University of Minnesota (sculpture, bronze casting) and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (American painting) and Carlton College, Minnesota (printmaking). He was nominated to attend the University of Virginia through the National Gallery, Washington DC (Renaissance Studies), and New York University Summer Workshop for Art Teachers, through the Art Institute of Chicago. His work has been influenced by teachers such as Robert von Neumann, Elsa Ulbricht, Karl Priebe, Gerrit Sinclair and Gerhardt Bakker.
Art education has been a consistent part of Kittleson’s career. His first teaching position was at the Oxbow Summer School of Painting in Saugatuck, Michigan in 1957. He was offered the position at the recommendation of Elsa Ulbricht, Director of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Art Department. Here Earl learned that he loved to teach. In addition to Oxbow, he fulfilled adjunct faculty responsibilities at the Shorewood Opportunity School (Modern Painting lectures), University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (Drawing and Screen Printing), The summer Studio, University of Wisconsin, Wausau (Printmaking), Milwaukee Area Technical College (Design for Commercial Art), Carroll College, Waukesha, Wisconsin (Figure and Anatomy), Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Watercolor) and Peninsula Art School, Fish Creek, Wisconsin (Watercolor). He served the students in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin Public Schools until his retirement in 1992. Earl was a frequent critique master in the Milwaukee area, lending an encouraging eye to aspiring as well as seasoned artists.
Earl was particularly known for his watercolor paintings and etchings. Curiosity serves to inform his art which has been described as intuitive, spontaneous, inventive and calculated. He experimented with media and technique, shaping what he learned into a unique art form. “Every run through of the press generates a different result”, Earl said. Art evolves from the courage to try new things. “Intriguing challenges to creativity are caused by accidents, either natural or provoked. The fun of painting is to turn accidents into a new form that means something special to the artist. We call it serendipity.” Kittleson continued his exploration of the possible in his studio in Brown Deer, Wisconsin.
Museum Collections:
Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin
Elvehjm Museum (now Chasen Gallery), Madison, Wisconsin
Museum of Fine Art, Boston, Massachusetts
Neville Museum, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Wustum Museum, Racine, Wisconsin
Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend
Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wisconsin
Miller Art Center, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin