Peace of the Wild

HART JAMES

Peace of the Wild
April 1 - May 1, 2021

Harris Harvey Gallery is pleased to present “Peace of the Wild,’ an exhibition of new oil paintings by Olympia-based artist Hart James. James’ work imbues the spirit and energy of nature through her bold depictions--defining a sense of place. She captures reflections seen on still waters, dramatic landforms, cascading waterfalls amongst rugged rocks, and draping limbs in dark lush forests. Upon spending much of her creative life curiously wandering and appreciating the outdoors the artist reflects, “We are nature, and in nature, is our peace. What we most need to do is to sing with the Earth on the inside.”

A dynamic use of paint, applied with immediacy and without fuss, charges James' paintings with a balance of chaotic energy and orderly qualities mimicking that of the natural world. Working primarily with palette knife and rag allows the artist to remain less bound to precision and work more organically. This process affords a strong connection between the artist and the wellspring of creativity and intuition.  James shares, “The importance of the messy drip, the misplaced color, the accident in my work is paramount. For my purposes, precision, and exactitude of process kills the painting. The energy is lost.”  James' approach allows her to move from a more traditional landscape painting style to a contemporary spontaneous one.

Influences on James' artistic perspectives include the landscape painting of the Sung Dynasty; painters such as Matisse, Cezanne, Burchfield, Bonnard; and contemporary artists David T. Alexander, Jennifer Pochinski, Peter Doig, Eric Aho, and Marlene Dumas.

Hart James studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, the San Francisco Art Institute, and with Anne Truitt, Vera Berdich, and Ed Pashcke, among others. In addition she studied art history and biology at Northwestern University, which has provided a strong background for her devotion to the arts. She has participated in artist residencies across the country including Oxbow, Morris Graves Foundation, Seaside, and the Vermont Studio Residency. James lives and works in Olympia, Washington.

Available Works

Harris Harvey GALLERY
1915 First Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
Tues - Sat 11:00 am - 5:00 pm; Mon by appointment
(206) 443-3315