Rockford artist Jesse T. Leach will attempt to live paint for 72 hours straight with no sleep. The artistic endurance event is slated for Friday, July 31, 2026, to Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, at Souljah Wellness, 412 E. State St., in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Artist Jesse T. Leach has emerged in recent years as a familiar face for live painting at different local events and festivals.
His next feat will blend art and endurance challenge.
The 35-year-old artist plans to paint for 72 consecutive hours without sleep. He hasn’t decided on how many pieces he’ll create. He could fill multiple canvases or focus on one large project.
“It’s a challenge for me to see how far I can really push myself and see how dedicated I am to the craft,” Leach said. “It’s not just doing art, but doing art to the extreme.”
The three-day live-painting marathon will kick off at 8 a.m. Friday, July 31 and conclude at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3 at SoulJah Wellness, 412 E. State St., next to Wired Cafe in downtown. Leach plans to livestream the event on his social media pages so people can follow his progress.
Long periods of sleep deprivation can limit cognitive function and cause disorientation, with the symptoms worsening the longer one goes without sleep, researchers in various studies found. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health compared 24 hours without sleep to having a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.10%, which would be over the 0.08% legal limit to drive. There is also potential for hallucinations and other adverse health effects after 24 hours without sleep.
Leach’s limit-pushing endeavor stems from a 12-word Facebook post he made July 3 on a whim. It read: “I want to paint art for 72 hours straight. No sleep. Live.”
Theresa McDermott, a registered nurse and the owner of Souljah Wellness, encouraged him not to just post about it, but to make it happen.
“Jesse is a man like I’ve never met before. He’s a very spiritually awakened soul. He’s literally walking the path,” she said. “I see his great belief in himself and his passion for really wanting to make a life for himself.”
They chose a weekend where McDermott wasn’t working her nursing job so she could be on hand to ensure his safety during the long sleepless painting session. Leach will pause his painting for essentials such as food, hydration, using the restroom and short breaks to keep his body fresh.
The public will be invited into the space for most of the 72 hours, including for the energetic spin classes that will take place during that span.
During certain hours when the doors are locked for safety, Leach will be in front of the window continuing to paint. There will also be music spinning from DJ Rated AG on the first night.
Jesse T. Leach paints on Sunday, June 7, 2026, during South Main Mercado in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Leach hopes people will stop in to talk with him to keep him energized throughout the event.
He said he’s doing it to challenge himself, inspire other artists and support Souljah Wellness, a spin studio that’s focused on health for body and mind.
“I’m doing it for Souljah Wellness, I’m doing it for other artists, I’m doing it for Rockford itself, and of course I’m always speaking about my son, so I’m doing it for him,” he said.
He said he’s been busy recently with live-painting events and murals, but he’s ready for this new challenge.
“The work ethic is real nasty right now,” he said. “As long as I can pace myself and don’t burn myself out, I feel like I can pull it off.”
Leach has been live painting at Souljah Wellness for months now, taking to the canvas during spin classes. The space has become his de facto art gallery.
“The students love it. He’ll take the energy from the class and just put it on the canvas. Then after every class all the students sign the back of the painting,” McDermott said. “All the walls are covered with paintings he’s done during classes.”
Jesse T. Leach poses for a portrait on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Souljah Wellness on East State Street in downtown Rockford. He’ll take on a 72-hour live-painting challenge there at the end of the month. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford has seen events before that blend art and endurance challenge. In 2024, Rockford native Bob Schlehuber locked himself in an 8-by-16 foot isolation room for 72 hours with no phone, no internet, no books, journals or outside communication. The artistic mental endurance challenge was designed to raise awareness about the affects of loneliness on mental health.
Artist Chris Geebus said he took on a 72-hour live-painting challenge several years ago before the onset of the pandemic. Geebus did the event from his home, although he livestreamed portions on Facebook.
“The transition from night into day and day into night were the hardest parts to go over because those were the times where I would be reminded the most that time was passing,” Geebus said. “The hardest challenges were trying to stay focused and not focused at the same time.”
At the end, Geebus said there was an adrenaline rush that had him ask himself whether he could’ve gone longer. But in the lead-up he said he had to prepare himself like an athlete would for competition.
“I don’t think people realize how physical art actually is for people: standing for hours or being bent at a certain angle or holding yourself in weird positions,” Geebus said. “I think it’s that same concept that a lot of athletes do with how far can you challenge yourself in doing this form.”
Leach was inspired into live painting by Roni Golan, a collaborative live painter and owner of The Underground Gallery, 418 E. State St. Leach started working for Golan as an assistant eight years ago, and today he considers Golan a mentor.
“The creating process is just to learn. It’s not to create an object. The object in the end is just a side effect,” Golan said of live painting. “I told (Leach) to just create as much as he can because it’s a tool to learn. To do anything he thinks he can’t do, is the one thing he should be doing.”
Golan said pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone is exactly what artists should do.
“If it’s a challenge, do it,” Golan said. “If it’s something that is comfortable and it’s easy, don’t do it. Don’t waste your life on it.”
Info | Don’t Sleep on Leach
When: 8 a.m. Friday, July 31 to 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3
Where: Souljah Wellness, 412 E. State St., Rockford
Jesse T. Leach is pictured Tuesday, July 14, 2026, inside Souljah Wellness in downtown Rockford, where he’ll take on a 72-hour live-painting challenge later this month. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas