ARTIST'S STATEMENT
James William Gardner

I am an expressionistic figurative painter.  First and foremost, my work is about paint.  Secondly, there is the figure.  I find it to be the most compelling image with which to work.  I am trying to do something new with it, something exciting and distinctive.  I like to work with contrasts, to use color in interesting ways and to play with light.  My figures are usually about life size.  They often struggle to compete with the paint.  They make eye contact with the viewer and hopefully engender an emotional response.  I think that when confronted with the human figure the viewer cannot resist making meaningful, personal connections.