Stapleton Kearns was born in 1952 and has been painting full time since the mid 1970s.  An established professional painter, he has made his living  as an artist for thirty years. Stapleton grew up in Minnesota, studied at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and the University of Minnesota. Neither was teaching what he wanted to learn, which was traditional painting.

He moved to Boston in 1973 and studied in the studio of R.H.Ives Gammell (1893–1981). A student of major American impressionist William Paxton, Ives passed on his art training to nearly 40 students over a period of almost 50 years. This was private instruction conducted at the historic Fenway studios in Boston, Massachusetts.

In 1983 Stapleton moved to Rockport, Massachusetts and opened his first art gallery. Rockport is a historic art colony and Stapleton had the opportunity to know and learn from an older generation of artists. They taught him the methods and ideas of the Cape Ann school of landscape painting. Stapleton was elected  president of the Rockport Art Association and  held that position for five years.

For nearly ten years Stapleton has lived in New Hampshire. Stape, as his friends call him, writes a blog about painting that receives thousands of visitors each month. The blog serves as an extensive online tutorial for those wishing to know more about traditional landscape painting. He also teaches workshops across the country.

Stapleton specializes in landscapes that are painted on location, but are often finished in the studio. His work is available from select galleries.