James Hartman
Burlingame, California
Artist James Hartman paints expressive California landscapes infused with color, memory, and place. “My goal was to be able to give my children paintings since the ones I live with from our family members are so meaningful,” says James. He grew up the tenth of eleven children in St. Louis and later moved to the Bay Area, where he studied at both the San Francisco Art Institute and Stanford. Deeply influenced by the Society of Six and Bay Area figurative painters, James spent over a decade painting outdoors with artists who had direct ties to that legacy. His studio is a converted 1908 carriage house next to his garden, complete with a skylight, solar ventilation, and bolts of canvas hanging from the rafters. Outside of painting, James enjoys biking the Bay with his wife, tending to his garden, and visiting museums with his children and grandchildren.
Artist Statement
As a California painter, I've had a colorful journey through art. Before settling in California in 1983, I spent time in Holland, where the works of Dutch masters deeply influenced me. My career took me to publishing, where I served as an Art Director for 14 years, honing my skills in design and graphics.
Living in the Bay Area has been a rich source of inspiration. I've dabbled in murals and specialty paint finishes, while also pursuing further studies in Fine Arts at the San Francisco Art Institute and Stanford University. In the early 1990s, I delved into plein air painting, capturing nature's essence with a personal touch.
For over a decade, I painted alongside accomplished artists like Terry St. John and Henry Brandon, absorbing their wisdom and techniques. Influenced by masters like Bonnard and the Bay Area figurative painters, my work seeks to find the essence of nature while expressing my own response to it.
Growing up in a large family, art was always present, and my mother-in-law's encouragement fueled my passion for oil painting. I cherish the time spent painting with fellow artists, and exploring scenic landscapes that have become the subjects of my work. I studied at the SF Art Institute and StanfordLiving in the Bay Area I was fascinated by the work of the Society of Six landscape painters. I was fortunate to meet artists who had painted with the last surviving member of that group. I painted with them for over ten years twice a week. One was a student of Richard Diebenkorn and the other a student of James Weeks. Finding out about all the painting locations that were tried and true, handed down through time, was invaluable.
My goal was to be able to give my children paintings since the ones I live with from our family members are so meaningful. Twice I have held a hummingbird in my hand, and true to what I have heard both times ended up being very lucky days for me.
My artistic process involves meticulous preparation of the canvas and drawing from years of exploring the region's prime locations. I find joy in capturing the beauty of regional landscapes, aiming to create meaningful pieces that resonate with viewers.
Living in the Bay Area has been a rich source of inspiration. I've dabbled in murals and specialty paint finishes, while also pursuing further studies in Fine Arts at the San Francisco Art Institute and Stanford University. In the early 1990s, I delved into plein air painting, capturing nature's essence with a personal touch.
For over a decade, I painted alongside accomplished artists like Terry St. John and Henry Brandon, absorbing their wisdom and techniques. Influenced by masters like Bonnard and the Bay Area figurative painters, my work seeks to find the essence of nature while expressing my own response to it.
Growing up in a large family, art was always present, and my mother-in-law's encouragement fueled my passion for oil painting. I cherish the time spent painting with fellow artists, and exploring scenic landscapes that have become the subjects of my work. I studied at the SF Art Institute and StanfordLiving in the Bay Area I was fascinated by the work of the Society of Six landscape painters. I was fortunate to meet artists who had painted with the last surviving member of that group. I painted with them for over ten years twice a week. One was a student of Richard Diebenkorn and the other a student of James Weeks. Finding out about all the painting locations that were tried and true, handed down through time, was invaluable.
My goal was to be able to give my children paintings since the ones I live with from our family members are so meaningful. Twice I have held a hummingbird in my hand, and true to what I have heard both times ended up being very lucky days for me.
My artistic process involves meticulous preparation of the canvas and drawing from years of exploring the region's prime locations. I find joy in capturing the beauty of regional landscapes, aiming to create meaningful pieces that resonate with viewers.
Artist Background
San Francisco Art Institute
Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1998
Stanford University
Master of Fine Arts, 1999
Press
A 2000-Piece Art Project Spanning Six Continents
Artist James Hartman Paints Thousands Of Tiny Sheep For The Millennium