Page 72 - CulturalAdventures3 final

James’s studio is housed in the same building as his gallery. In the light-filled space on the second floor, the artist is surrounded by
paintings – completed paintings ready for framing, works in progress, and small studies done in preparation for larger pieces. James
works in both acrylic and egg tempera – two water-based media with very different properties.
In egg tempera, the artist must prepare the paint from scratch every day, mixing egg yolk with pigment to the desired consistency. The
paint cannot be applied thickly but must be built up in multiple layers. Because it dries to the touch very rapidly, egg tempera cannot
be physically blended on the surface, and brush strokes cannot be reworked. The fine lines and multiple layers promote optical mix-
ing – when two colors placed side by side combine in the view’s eye to produce a third color. Each successive layer affects, and is
affected by, the underlying layers. James explains that, because he trained as an illustrator, with strong drawing skills, the linear as-
pect of egg tempera made it a natural transition for him.

Now, after years of working with this often temperamental medium, James has a strong sense of the nature of the medium. He says,
“Egg tempera keeps you on your toes. It won’t let you stray – you can’t get too experimental without consequences. It’s not as for-
giving as acrylic. Using acrylics, you can change a painting halfway through to develop a whole different painting. You can’t really
do that in egg tempera.”

Along the Fundy Coast, 24” x 48”, acrylic on panel, by James O’Neil

James uses both media to create shimmering paintings of the glacial littoral of the Northeast. Looking at his paintings, the viewer can
almost feel the texture of the rocks, hear the sound of the waves.

However, while James’s paintings are realistic, they are not necessarily real. The painter takes elements from different views and com-
bines them to create a landscape all his own. He says, “Sometimes I’ll use a specific house, but then I’ll put it in a different place. I
paint what I’d like to come upon while out for a walk or a drive.” By distilling the essence of the landscape, James’s paintings create
a timeless world that is both familiar and strange.

James’s paintings also suggest a narrative. They seem to show a moment within a story in an almost cinematic way. When human
figures are shown they appear to have been captured just before or after the climax of a scene. The viewer can’t help wondering what
has happened, or what is about to happen.

To experience James’s paintings for yourself, visit his gallery at 298 North Lubec Road, North Lubec. The gallery is open from mid-
June to mid-September, or by appointment. For more information call (207) 733-8876 or visit the website www.jamesoneilartist.com.
You can also see James’ work at Woodwind Frame and Gallery in Machias, Artemis Gallery in Northeast Harbor, and Ironbound
Gallery in Camden.

70