Lydia May Ames

Lydia May Ames (1863 – October 1, 1946) was an American painter from Cleveland, Ohio. She specialized in miniature oil paintings, and was among Cleveland's first female artists in addition to being its first impressionist painter.

Biography Ames was born in Cleveland in 1863, in what was then Newburgh, to a livery service provider by the name of Ashley Ames. These landscapes were typically done as miniatures, the product smaller than a postcard in size. In addition to her oil miniatures she also painted murals. Most of her productive time was spent in Cleveland, although she took trips for sketching purposes to both New England and the Mediterranean.

Ames is sometimes recognized as "Cleveland's first impressionist painter". Her favorite subject was Garfield Park in Cleveland, which was near her home on Miles Avenue.

At one point in Ames career, she was the only woman member of the New York Art Club.

Her teaching focused on anatomy and art history and development, the latter in which she became a noted expert.

Major exhibitions Louis M. Sealand Gallery, Cleveland, 1900 Society of Independent Artists, New York, 1917 Society of Independent Artists, New York, 1921 Lindner Store, Cleveland, August 1925