leonard ruder in his first portland studio / 1953 / photo: bob davidson    

leonard ruder was born in detroit in 1917. he studied at cranbrook academy of art after returning from europe at the end of world war ll. he kicked around the u.s. and lived in new orleans and mexico before moving to portland in the early 1950's. he married and with his wife irene had three children, all of whom were always welcome in his studio (even at the earliest of ages). he was a high school janitor by day and spent almost every other waking moment painting. however, friday and saturday nights in the late 50's and early 60's were reserved for drinking home brew or cheap wine in his living room with a tight group of fellow portland artists: jim hibbard (1936/ ), hank kowert (1924/1977), claude mcgraw (1919/1979), louis bunce (1907/1983) and charles heaney (1897/1981). they engaged in lively and sometimes heated political and philosophical outbursts until the wee hours of the following morning. leonard ruder died in 2010, his wife and children remain in portland.

portland curator silas b. cook has written an informative biography of leonard ruder's life. it includes a gallery of paintings representing more than fifty years of his work.
          
                       
                                                   2002 /  irene and leonard ruders's 50th wedding anniversary card

                           
                                         leonard ruder / 2009 / photo: rhine ruder