My
Story

Artist Statement

My connection with the natural world began in the rural environment of my youth in northern New Hampshire.  Now living in the mountains of Montana, my work continues to be inspired by experiencing the natural world in which I interact with and exploring the concept of place and its relation to my work.
During my creative process I transform memories of my explorations from snapshots of static landscapes into living, moving compositions.
 My background in architecture helps give me a unique perspective of the forms, colors, and patterns present within the places I visit. I incorporate these elements into my paintings to create bold interpretations of familiar landscapes.

Biography

Originally from northern New Hampshire, James moved west to Montana in 2003 and immediately fell in love with the dramatic landscapes and vast open spaces of the northern Rocky Mountains. Drawing on techniques learned from studying
architecture, he created a unique painting style that blended elements of illustration, painting, and technical drafting.

James currently works as a professional artist and architectural designer, and gets outside to play in the mountains, lakes, and rivers as much as possible.

ABOUT

Process

"Never throw your process work away!" was a phrase drilled into my head in architecture school;
I eventually listened. Like most artists, every one of my paintings begins as a rough sketch. Some are no more than an inch or two wide. Some get colored, some don't. Some are perfect after the first sketch, some are scrapped after re-working a sketch several times. Click below to learn more about my process and technique.

Process