James Varnum
Cloud Color, Watercolor and Ink on Terra Skin
What are your earliest memories of being artistic? Sitting at the dining room table, trying to draw the characters from the comics in the daily paper.
When did art become a pursuit? In my junior year of high school.
Are you self-taught or formally educated in visual art? I have a BFA in painting and drawing from the San Francisco Art Institute.
How did you first become involved with CAA? My friend Bonnie Lerner encouraged me to apply for membership through the jurying process.
Jack of Hearts, Alcohol Inks and Ink on Terra Skin
In what other ways are you involved in the local art community? I am co-president of the Newton Art Association and I belong to several regional art associations.
What role do you think the artist plays in society? Artists represent another dimension in the perception of the reality that is shared by society. We express our perceptions through representational means, through non-representational/abstract ways and many other means of visual expression.
What medium do you currently work in and how did you choose this medium? I work primarily in watercolor on paper and artificial substrates like Yupo and Terra Skin.
What is your creative process? Where are you finding ideas for your art these days? I am constantly photographing patterns and textures in nature, which I then use as jumping off points for my paintings. I typically choose a limited palette and incorporate various materials to create texture. I then draw on the dry work following the contours of the textures.
How do you choose your subject matter? Is there a reoccurring theme that carries throughout your work? I occasionally do landscapes but primarily my paintings come from my imagination. The tracing and drawing of the contours and terrain of my paintings are the recurring themes.
In your opinion, what’s your best/favorite piece you’ve made? My favorite piece is a painting called Dream Catcher, one of my early watercolor and ink works.
Break Away, Watercolor and Ink
What is one of your artistic goals? To keep experimenting and exploring various materials and water media.
What’s your favorite place to see art? The MFA, SoWa and the various museums and galleries in the region.
What living artists are you inspired by? Wolf Kahn, Jeanne Gugino, Rebecca Vincenzi, and Lori Mehta to name a few.
Do you own any art by other artists? Yes.
See more James!
Website: jcvarnumart.com
Instagram: jamescvarnum