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Quote by James Nares

“I remind myself that traveling through life as an artist requires one to distill things slowly. To be inquisitive, inventive, and patient - a lot of things get discarded along the way. It's a little like boiling sea water to get at the salt.”

Quote by James Nares

Author

James Nares, born in 1953, is a British film director known for his unique visual style and profound insights into social issues. His work has gained widespread recognition in both the art and film communities. more

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“I was pretty impressed during the opening of one of my shows, when the five-year-old daughter of a well-known movie actress took a running jump at one of my paintings, like she was diving into a swimming pool. I preferred to treat her impulse as a compliment rather than insult. Sadly she hurt herself more than the painting.”

“Well, this week's peeve might be... when art writers talk about an artist's 'efforts,' meaning their work. It always sounds patronizing to me, like 'I'll give you an E for effort.' How about the artist's 'effortlessnesses' instead? It's certainly something, or at least the appearance of something, that I aspire to myself.”

Giving Wells Art Might Artist Sound Effort Week Appearance Working It Aspire Patronizing Peeves

Author:James Nares

“The real joy is in discovering that the twigs and branches of my practice are all firmly rooted in a single tree, even as time goes by and I become increasingly aware of the fleetingness of all things.”

Real Joy Practice Tree All Things Branches Discovering Rooted Twigs Time Goes By Real Joy

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“I do make my own brushes and have done so for many years. I'm constantly refining the designs, trying new materials, re-configuring other brushes - all in my never-ending quest for the perfect brush.”

Trying Years Done My Own Perfect Design Materials Quests Brushes Never Ending Refining

Author:James Nares

“It's true, I do sometimes suspend myself over the canvas, but mostly I work at a table when I'm making a painting. When I use 'The Rig,' my feet are firmly anchored. I lower myself horizontally just long enough to make a brush stroke - a matter of seconds - and then I'm upright again. My assistant then erases the painting quickly with a squeegee and I go for it again... until I get it right. It's like trying to hit a home run.”

Trying Long Sometimes Matter Enough Use Home Running Feet Painting Tables Seconds Canvas Strokes Brushes Erase Assistants Home Run Methodology Rigs Brush Strokes

Author:James Nares

“What really interests me about capturing and suspending movement is that I get to experience something invisible and inaudible, as elusive and fleeting as thought itself, and give it form... Maybe my paintings are all just little fragments of the Cosmic Dance suspended in time.”

Giving Littles Form Interest Movement Painting Invisible Cosmic Fleeting Fragments Elusive Suspended

Author:James Nares

“I don't have a favorite place to see art. I like to encounter it anywhere, museum, gallery, home, studio, street... I do prefer to see good art, when I see art, but it doesn't matter where I see it.”

Art Matter Home Streets Studios Encounters Museums Gallery Good Art Favorite Places

Author:James Nares

“My paintings have an ongoing dialogue with photography. There are many painters who would say the same, I'm sure. The difference is that I'm thinking more about the temporal aspect of photography, rather than the visual.”

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Author:James Nares

“My brushes, my cameras, and my willingness to use them.”

Use Cameras Willingness Brushes

Author:James Nares

“Music has always been important to me. Rhythm, in particular, features in most of the things I do. I stumbled recently upon an old notebook in which I'd written, 'Touch, timing and timbre... keys to the heart.' That just about says it all.”

Heart Important Written Particular Keys Rhythm Features Timing Notebook Timbre

Author:James Nares