Marine painter, illustrator, muralist.  Born in Watsonville, CA in 1881.  Raised in Los Angeles, Gleason began drawing at an early age and by 14 was employed by the Union Engraving Company.  His first art training began at he College of Fine Arts at USC under William Lees Judson.  In 1899 he moved to San Francisco where he continued his studies at the Mark Hopkins Institute while working as a commercial artist for the Sunset Engraving Company.  He had further study at the San Carlos Academy in Mexico City, Art Institute of Chicago under Vanderpoel, and the Art Students' League of NYC with DuMond.  After remaining in New York for about ten years, he returned to Los Angeles in 1910 and began concentrating on fine art.  

Although he painted portraits and landscapes, Gleason is best known for the marine and harbor scenes which were done around San Pedro harbor.  He was author-illustrator of Windjammers, Islands of California, and Islands and Ports of California.  Gleason was also a fine gymnast, having won the International Championship on the Roman Flying Rings eleven times.  In his later years he worked in the art departments of MGM and Warner Brothers studios.  

Member: Santa Monica Art Association; Painters and Sculptors of Los Angeles (Pres. 1930-32); Academy of Western Painters, Los Angeles; California Art Club; Long Beach Art Association; Artists of the Southwest

Exhibited: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1924 (solo); Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939; California Palace of the Legion of Honor, 1945

Awards: Gold Medals, California-Panama Exposition, San Diego, 1915; First and Second portrait prizes, California State Fair, 1931

Murals: Hotel Calrk, Los Angeles; Gardena High School

(Source: Hughes, Edan Milton, "Artists in California: 1786-1940," San Francisco: Hughes Publishing Company, 1989.)