CONTACT JIM :
831-4251854
330 Sims Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
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ABOUT JIM
My landscape painting is primarily inspired by hours I have spent hiking the trails of Santa Cruz County, and some more remote regions of Northern California. This includes such places as Wilbur Hot Springs in Colusa County and the John Muir Trail in the high Sierras. My brush strokes capture moments of reverie along the San Lorenzo River banks and up on fire trails by Castle Rock State Park. Working intuitively with acrylics I attempt to bring to the canvas some of the strong emotions I experienced in my outdoor meditations.
Sometimes I make little sketches
or take
slides of the scenes and shapes that appeal to me, most reliably though, I like
to work from fuzzy memories. Drawing from these imprecise recollections allows
the moodiness a chance to percolate into the painting in a spontaneous way that
enthralls me. I also paint plein air, where I allow the effects of the sun,
wind, and morning chill to work their way directly onto the canvas.
My formal study of art began with drawing classes I took while working as a professor at San Jose City College in the 1980’s. I later immersed myself in painting while on sabbaticals from my teaching job. On my most recent sabbatical in 2004 I studied the relationship between meditation and the creative process. This is a topic I address in my psychology classes and workshops.
My early painting was primarily abstract in nature. In the past two years I moved to more landscape inspired work drawing on my love of the woods. I now have begun to paint plein air, and am exploring the emotional and sensual elements of painting in the out of doors.Click HERE for an Artist's Resumé (PDF)
Photo of Jim Potterton by his niece, Annaleigh Potterton