in Sylva, NC and raised in Cullowhee, James’ art is heavily influenced by the natural and urban features of the region and from his study of art history. His grandmother, Mary Jane Ellsworth, was a prolific painter and writer. She introduced him to the fine arts at a young age. Producing only a handful of sketches throughout his early life, he devoted himself rather to literary pursuits in the form of prose and poetry. Mary Jane died in 2017 and following this he began investing time into the study of visual art appreciation and history.
Born
Eventually he began creating visual works of his own with the aim of coalescing aspects from multiple art movements. Working predominantly in pastels for the speed afforded by dry mediums, he uses the bold application of pure color and high contrasting shades to convey the tension and loneliness experienced throughout Appalachia. Applying vivid realism alongside understated areas of two dimensional abstraction, he creates compositions which pull in the viewer and elicit a physical response.
James draws heavily from American Tonalism, Post-Impressionism, and all forms of Expressionism, coining the term Appalachian Expressionism as a means of defining the sense of place and time which are integral to his art. He now works as a completely self-taught, professional artist out of Asheville, NC selling prints of his work throughout Western North Carolina.