James Ayers is an American contemporary figurative and landscape painter. His passion for travel has taken him to many parts of the world, from Native American lands to urban America and Africa’s Great Rift Valley to numerous European countries. Most of his previous paintings have been of Indigenous people and their ways of life, however, Ayers’ new work is inspired by landscapes, cityscapes and portraiture.
Morning Shadows, New England, oil on canvas, 40 x 54"
Winter Glow, Parker, Colorado, oil on canvas, 30 x 30"
Through the process of connecting with the subject matter, he aims to make an emotional connection and convey that connection on the canvas. Ayers works in oils, layering thick impasto paint with palette knives, brushes and brayer rollers. To add depth and movement to the image, he uses techniques such as scumbling (dragging paint with a brush across the canvas), sgraffito (scratching out wet paint to expose the underpaint colors), splattering and intentional drips of paint. Ayers often applies graphite and crayon atop the finished work to amplify its visual impact.
The secret to his work, however, is the balance of planning and execution with a playful openness to unconventional approaches. Ultimately it’s the unrestrained freedom that allows Ayers to elevate his paintings with energy and spirit. —
Want to See More?
james@jamesayers.com
www.jamesayers.com
Instagram: @jamesayersart
Represented by Canyon Road Contemporary Art
622 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 983-0433 | www.canyoncontemporary.com
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