Ian Hart has drawn regularly since the second grade, and in 1994 developed an interest in oil painting. He started college as an BFA candidate at Syracuse University's College of the Visual and Performing Arts, concentrating in Illustration. Sophomore year he studied with Jerome Witkin, a renowned painter of large-scale thematic figurative pieces. He soon realized that he was putting more time, effort, and love into his one painting class than his two illustration classes combined. At the end of his sophomore year he transferred to the College of William and Mary in Virginia. There he enjoyed a great deal of freedom of subject matter. Focusing on the figure, he concentrated on near- to life-sized figurative work. He earned his BA from William and Mary with a double concentration in Fine Art and Public Policy.

After a 2-year hiatus, Ian began painting regularly again in January 2001. Using conte crayon and oil paints, his primary interest is thematic treatments of the figure, nude and clothed, as well as the occasional still-life.