James Hunter Paintings

James Hunter Paintings

I first came across James Hunter’s paintings browsing Eyestorm. I loved their vitality and focus. It’s rare to see an artist so clear in their intention and execution.

These paintings (and silkscreen print) are a celebration of colour, form and mark making. The vibrant lines hop, skip and jump from the unprimed canvas like notes flying through the air of a Manhattan jazz bar.

James describes his work as an ‘honest and playful journey’. Each mark plays off the next mark until they reach a kind of off-kilter, and beautiful, harmony.

Paul Klee’s observation that ‘drawing is taking a line for a walk’ fits well with Hunter’s recent artworks. Carefully painted lines and shapes explore the terrain of the canvas creating a joyful map of jaunty relationships.

Materials

Each painting is constructed the same way with the stretched canvas presented inside a white box frame. Enamel and acrylic work in tandem to create the dancing shapes and forms on the unprimed surface. Elegantissima sees Hunter take a new direction with a 9 colour screenprint with varnish on paper.

About The Artist

Born in Preston in 1987 James studied painting and performance at Leeds Metropolitan University on the Contemporary Art Course.

He then went on to work for over two years as a fabricator for a little known artist called… Damien Hirst. This hands-on practical training had a big impact on Hunter’s work, especially in his attention to detail and presentation.

James Hunter Online

• James Hunter · Eyestorm