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Interview with James Browne
Featured Artist for November 2002
Interviewed by Socar Myles
To begin with, let's get the biographical details out of the way. Can
you tell us a little about yourself--where you're from, what you like to do
in your free time (apart from art, of course!), et cetera?
Well let's see. Where to begin? My life began in Upper Bucks County, PA (not too far from Philly). It was the summer of '69 when I first opened my eyes to a whole new world. I grew up in the country, along with two siblings and two wonderful parents. It was a magical place where my imagination could grow. We lived on top of a mountain that looked across the Delaware River. The countryside was filled with streams & brooks, covered bridges (yes, we even had a troll living nearby) and hundreds of gnarly trees. I spent most of my early years there. We moved to the suburbs in the early 80's and that is where I spent most my life until I moved onto college, in Philadelphia, in the early 90's. I met my beautiful wife, Nadine, some five years later and we now live in Phoenixville, PA and spend two months every year in Germany, Nadine's homeland.
To say something about myself, apart from art, is hard to do. I think about art all the time and I couldn't think of anything better to do with my free time than to paint. But... if you'd really like to know. I like to cuddle by the fireplace with my wife or our basset hound, Lady Darby (I'm sure you've all seen her, Socar did a wonderful painting of her). Man, am I corny or what? I like to go for walks in the woods, talk to the trees, look for the little wee folk and..... there I go again. My imagination has taken over & I'm dying to get back to the studio. I LOVE to watch movies! I'm a movie buff. And to top it all off, I like kicking back with a nice cold German beer. I'm not old or wrinkled enough yet to smoke a pipe. Perhaps someday, I'll get a hold of some of that Hobbit weed and kick back with that.
Your paintings show an extraordinary imagination--where do you get all
those marvelous ideas from?
Why, thank you! That's just what I had in mind, no pun intended. My imagination runs all day like an electric meter. I've always been in touch with who I am and how my mind is working. For me it's harder to STOP creating than it is to START creating in my mind. My imagination stems from my childhood. Back in the day when I would hear my mother's voice as she read "The Chronicles of Narnia", by C.S. Lewis and of course, "The Lord of the Rings". We had a TV, but it was on the top shelf in a closet. Being too little to reach it, as kids we would resort to laying on the library floor, listening to Simon & Garfunkel & The Moody Blues paging through countless books. Man! I loved that library rug. My imagination continues to be inspired by those and things around me to this day. My imagination is triggered in many ways, from seeing a little boy waiting for his bus, not realizing that his rain boots are on the wrong feet (I can understand this one, those companies producing the yellow rain boots should really give them more of a curve at the tips. Poor kid!) to my lovely muse running through a golden meadow with the wind blowing trough her hair. It's all the beauty & good things in life that inspire me. There's enough negativity out there, let alone paint it. I want people to feel good about themselves when they view my work.
Which other artists, historic or contemporary, would you say are your
greatest influences?
The works of the great Arthur Rackham (I hope one day to own one of his originals. He's #1), Alphonse Mucha (I saw his "Slav Epic" this past summer in Czech Republic. All 20 mural paintings. The canvases were from sail ships. I don't think I'll ever see more amazing paintings in my life. He's right there with Rackham in my book), Maxfield Parrish (his work is out of this world.), J.W. Waterhouse ("The Lady of Shallot", I stared at the original for hours.), NC. Wyeth (I practically live in his back yard & view his work all the time.) and of course Alan Lee & Brian Froud (both of whom I hope to meet one day. I grew up learning how to draw with their famous "Faeries" book). I'm a huge fan of all the great painters of the turn of the century and the golden age of illustration.
I also, can't say enough about all the great artists here at Epilogue. What a wonderful art community.
What's your greatest ambition, as far as your art is concerned?
It certainly isn't money. I want to leave behind a body of work that will live on forever. I want to touch as many people as I can with the imagery I create and bring out the child in all that view my paintings. My artwork is an extension of who I am, and I've had a good life. If I can make a difference in someone else's life or even put a smile on their face, then I know I did what I was put here to do. I also want to follow in the footsteps of the greats and leave my mark.
I noticed on your site, www.jamesbrowne.net, that you illustrated a
children's book, "Into Enchanted Woods" by Jen Bryant. What was it like
working on that?
Yes, it was my second children's book. I had a wonderful time working on it. I was able to have full creative freedom (every artist's dream) while creating the illustrations and completed the whole project in just two months. I hope one day to write & illustrate my own books.
What advice would you give to young people who are interested in
choosing art as a career? Any tips and tricks concerning the business side
of things?
Most important! Be passionate, patient & persistent in all that you do when it comes to a career in art. It's a very competitive and saturated field out there, but when you find your market it can be very rewarding. I've been making a living as a fine artist & illustrator for about 8 years now and I can't think of any other career I'd rather be doing. There's nothing like calling your own shots and being your own boss.
As far as tips, well from experience, I've learned that the personal touch goes a long way. I've had people collecting my work for years now & they keep coming back for more. I know it's not just to fill space on their walls. I've been very fortunate to sell most of my work on a personal level (doing shows & such) and kept up with a mailing list (very important!). Having a good reputation in the art world also goes a long way (meeting the deadlines, producing consistently good work, etc.). And anytime you get the chance to jam your foot in the door or you see something on the horizon, go after it
As far as tricks, well....the only tricks I can think of, is while doing this interview I'm handing out candy to all those creepy, scary & crazy looking trick or treaters knocking at our door. It's Halloween tonight. I don't know if there are any real tricks to this trade, just a lot of hard work for a lot of years.
When and how did you decide to become an artist?
I've always had an imagination and loved doodling on the tops of desks & the backs of chairs. In between years of collecting things, playing sports, listening to music, looking at books (not reading, just looking at the pictures) & chasing the ladies, I decided to follow my calling. I was in my senior year of high school when I decided to be a sculptor. What? A sculptor? I carved and sculpted things for years, little did I know that I would become the artist I am today.
Did you go to art school or have other formal training, or do you work
all this magic on your own?
Yes, I was enrolled at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and graduated with a BFA (as if that really matters much) in 1993. I can say the experience was full of its ups & downs, mistakes & masterpieces, all-nighters and way too much JOLT (my substitute for coffee. I hate coffee!). I learned how to meet deadlines, eat mushrooms and stay awake during critiques. With all this being said, I can honestly say that my work & technique is my own. All the mistakes I've made in the past have gotten me where I am today.
Let's talk about your creative process--how do you get from idea to
finished work? Are there any "rules" or procedures you always follow, or do
you prefer to experiment anew every time?
Well, like I said before, my mind is always creating or thinking on how a particular painting can be better. When I finally decide what image I want to create, I put on some classical music, burn some pine incense and begin to draw what's in my head, along with the use of any reference I might have gathered. When laying out a piece, I tend to stay away from thumbnails & paint studies. I believe the more you rework a sketch or a painting you sometimes lose the emotion in the overall finish. When I'm satisfied with the drawing, I then ink the drawing with a sepia ink (this allows the finish to have some sort of line quality). I then paint like a mad man and I paint fast. Emotion is everything. I also like to paint in numbers (no, not paint by numbers). I might have anywhere from 5 to 10 paintings going at the same time and depending on my mood, I finish them off one by one. But I am never done, the images keep coming to my head.
I don't have any rules that I follow when I paint, but I do have habits I tend to fall into... like putting a face in every tree I paint. I feel bad if I miss one.
Got any funny or interesting stories to tell about your experiences in
the art world?
Awe! That's a great question. I have tons of stories to tell but that would take all night and would be better said around a campfire, along with a few beers. However, I will share a couple of stories with you since I'm here.
This is my #1 true story. Earlier this year, while at an arts festival, I was sitting in my booth when a lady approached me with two of my prints ready to purchase. I asked her if she would like them personalized with a little doodle on the back (something I always offer to my customers. Remember, personal touch goes a long way). She paused and then proceeded to ask, "If you do sign them on the back, would that take away from the value when you are.....well...dead?" I couldn't believe it! What was she thinking? Not only was she ignorant, but man, was she stupid! I swallowed my pride and signed them anyway.
Another funny moment was when I was home from college on Christmas break. I was staying at my parents house and was finishing an assignment that was due at the beginning of the following semester (yes, homework on the holidays). I was struggling big time on this particular painting and had just pulled my second straight all-nighter. I use to paint in the basement and would disappear for days, it seemed. My parents would slip my plate of food under the door (hehe!). Anyway, I had gotten so frustrated with this damn piece that I wrinkled it all up, threw it into the trash can and passed out on the floor. The next morning, my mother came down to the dungeon to check on me. I woke up hearing her say, "James, what happened? Your painting!" I jumped up, realizing that it wasn't a dream. All those hours, all that work! I grabbed the wrinkled up painting and ran to the sink to wet it down. My mom, feeling my frustration, grabbed the now soaked painting out of my hand and ran upstairs with it. After a few moments of gathering myself together, I went upstairs to the sight of my mother ironing my painting on the ironing board. Is that support or what?
Sorry--I have to ask--it's obligatory: What cartoons did you watch as
a kid?
"The Smurfs". That Smurfette really must have seen a lot of action.
Have you ever had the dreaded "artist's block"? And, if so, how did
you knock it down and carry on with your work?
No, I never run into that problem. For me it's more a problem of not having enough time to create everything. The subject matter I paint is endless.
In conclusion, is there anything you'd like to say to the Epilogue
community which I didn't already cover?
Yes. Being an artist and being able to express myself through my work is my ultimate high. It's fulfilling and very inspiring. And in closing, there's nothing more special then receiving the wonderful responses about my work from the artists here at Epilogue. It's my favorite place to visit on the internet. Thank you!
Now, get inspired and go paint!
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