{"title":"James Oliver","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eJames Oliver is a painter and a photographer. A native of Los Angeles, James came to Richmond at an early age of six where his family settled in Oregon Hill, an old working class neighborhood overlooking the James River. His family eventually moved east of Richmond where he grew up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAt an early age he was given an easel, paper and crayons, which in the cold winter, replaced the year round warm weather of California, palm trees, mountains, a nearby ocean and the occasional running into movie stars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eArt drifted off and on throughout life. Discovering Norman Rockwell and various illustrators captured his interest. A high school art class introduced him to oil paints where one of the teachers bought his painting of Rembrandt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eIn the late 70’s he decided to backpack Europe for the summer. His friend had just finished college and decided to come along. The big regret was not taking his SLR camera, but instead took a cheap 35m, concerned that it would be ripped off or lost. They used a Euro pass and camped in 12 countries, sometimes staying in pensions, convents, sleeping on the train and even camping out in the Swiss Alps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHe admired the early expressionists’ rich color with thick, loose brushstrokes seen from his visits to the Louvre and Prado museums. Thinking, perhaps one day he could emulate their painting techniques in his own interpretations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThrough the years, his artistic interest drew him to visit small local galleries that were around at the time. Cudahy’s, Brazier's, and Chasen galleries topped the list. Shockoe Bottom Art Gallery, a converted tobacco warehouse, was where he first exhibited his paintings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis working life varied, from playing in a road band, a truck lettering business, stock broker in the 80’s, political activist, writer, movie extra and ending at the Jefferson Hotel working in the engineering department, where he documented the hotel and its history through photography. There, he also befriended several celebrities such as James Spader, Arianna Huffington, and even found himself discussing photography with Daniel Day Lewis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eJames’s paintings, as well as his photography, include parts of Richmond, landscapes and portraits. His technical knowledge was farther enhanced locally by various artists like Chuck Larivey, and Loryn Brazier, where, through he met Everett Kinstler, whom assured him that his partial colorblindness can even work in his favor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis style varies from portraits and landscapes to ‘paint for fun’ outsider art like his ‘Rat Dog’ series. This originated from where he, a friend and his son hung around on weekends along with their dog. Although the (rat dog) in the paintings was not that particular dog, but came from an obnoxious little bastard he hated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eIt would be somewhat inaccurate to say he is self-taught because he did not have a formal art education. Years of books, galleries, observance, watching Helen Van Wyk on PBS, and talking with other artists filled the gap. Awards were not a concern. Someone once said, for good or bad, let the art speak for itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eJames primarily paints in oil, but occasionally uses acrylic. Water soluble oils have worked their way into his process. He works on several paintings at a time, which allows him to take a break and come back with a fresh eye and see things that were missed before. There are periods of time when he settles into a series of themes such as his paintings of Church Hill, the James River and the Jefferson Hotel. In an alter ego, he paints figurative abstracts at times. Commission portraits are not his primary interest; however, from time to time they come up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/8101\/files\/cid_7DB91ABB0C9A46EC84027D8DB9B4E017_JamesHP_edited_copy.jpg?v=1788531773\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/8101\/collections\/CHURCH_HILL_4_copy.jpg?v=1788531785","url":"https:\/\/www.crossroadsartcenter.com\/collections\/james-oliver.oembed","provider":"Crossroads Art Center","version":"1.0","type":"link"}