James Lewis (b.1953) realized at an early age that he had a gift and calling in artistic pursuits. James graduated from Columbus College of Art and Design with a BFA degree. His artistic influences range from Whistler to Wolf Kahn as well as many contemporaries in American painting. Years of experience as an illustrator, art director, designer and university art instructor have given Lewis’ new paintings a mature yet fresh feel, where simple and everyday experiences are painted with both realism and abstraction. The result is a sense of order, balanced by spontaneity and energetic brushwork, direct and intuitive. Believing that environment and relationship also fuel creativity, travels including an extended stay in SW Florida, have provided enormous amounts of inspiration, as does his wife Sherry who is his favorite model for figurative work

Lewis resides with his wife in the Low Country of South Carolina, and has recently become an associate member in both the Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society. He has been teaching workshops at the Society of Bluffton Artists and the Academy-Art League of Hilton Head

Artist Statement

“While art is often inspired by environment and relationship, it also may have the privilege of changing our environment, and our relationship with life and others. Art is capable of more than simply adding beauty to our life, but can change the way we think and feel, bringing an actual sense of refreshment, peace, joy or other expression within our soul.” - James Lewis