
JAMES GUMMERSON
"A lot of what I do is inspired by my experiences and the strong feelings and thoughts I have during a moment. It’s more of an instinctual process. I’m also inspired by Nature."
Biography
James Gummerson is a Hamilton-based artist who works primarily in acrylics and oils. After attending Sheridan College and working as an illustrator, he began to build his own artistic practice. His work has been featured in major publications and galleries across Canada. He has also been interviewed on radio and received numerous awards. In 2020, James was invited to appear on the CBC TV show Landscape Artist of the Year Canada. He was the wildcard winner of episode one and a runner-up in the finals. James draws inspiration from the urban environment where he lives. His work explores dramatic light and skies against the backdrop of daily urban life. Much of it focuses on ordinary moments that can be filled with history and nostalgia. He teaches at the college and art school levels, leads workshops across the province, and is often invited to give talks on a range of art subjects
Artist Statement
Since the early 1990’s my work has incorporated representational and impressionistic elements through the use of Acrylic and Watercolor paint. In 1995 I began using different paper, canvas and boards throughout my paintings to express the emotional elements of the painting. I continue to incorporate different materials on which to paint and utilize different styles depending on how I feel for the subject. In my work, I explore Canadian Landscapes, History, and Culture, through the use of subject matter I have obtained throughout my travels across Canada. My work also addresses issues such as Conservation, and Urban Sprawl, through the use of naturalistic and non-urban elements that portray a sense of preservation and spirituality. In many instances both past and present elements appear in a painting, coexisting to suggest the progression of time as well as our ideas and values towards ecological issues. Finally, the paintings document as well as confront. As I have traveled throughout much of Canada and my home province of Ontario, I create images that provide clues to my own ideologies. Often I will work spontaneously to document the experience and at other times spend many hours in inclement weather painting only to conclude that the painting may need more time to complete in the studio. It is a process that requires intuition and stamina. I work mainly in Acrylics on canvas, board or various types of paper. This medium is versatile which I use to symbolize both strong and a gentle qualities through the use of thick or transparent applications. The various materials, subject matter, and ideas are unified to suggest my perception and experiences of my life within Canada.









