The world seems to be shifting in a direction that looks to be unknown. As an aspiring artist how should I proceed to create? How should I share my work with you? What should I give time to?

Spending two months in quarantine I often asked myself if sharing one's art on social media was really necessary? For the past eight years I've had the opportunity to connect with some amazing individuals, some solely on the web and some in person. There have been a handful of people that have helped open doors for me, which I will be forever grateful for. Over those years I've noticed myself more and more rushing through art work so I can post and share it with you all.

Have I lost touch with what it means to genuinely create? I've honestly struggled with this. I remember a time when I painted just because I felt the urgency to do so. Stacks of drawings and paintings would fill my bedroom. How do I go back to that? Not piled up work that was made out of needing some validation from social media. How do I go back to the childlike manner of making art? I'm reminded of the Picasso quote "It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child."

I think of that quote in the manner of not just like a child in the physical sense, but with the sense of as much curiosity.

The current collection I am working on is capturing some moments in time during this world changing pandemic. Below is a sketch I've recently done, referencing a photograph I took while in New York City back in 2018. A woman with no mask on buying fruit from the local fruit stand in Brooklyn. The reminder of that scene gave me hope that one day we will return to those simplicities as well become more thoughtful and evolved individuals. From the experience of sketching that image I want to shift my focus, I want to try a new process, taking more time going more in depth with my work. I've wasted too many hours when I should have gone deeper in the process rather than being distracted with the world of social media. This is not an anti Instagram letter, but a realization for myself and my work to free distractions and respect the process even more. To expand my understanding and to stretch my limits further.

Like Vincent VanGogh writing to Theo about his journey, with curiosity and deep thoughtfulness. I strive to take just as much time and energy to process my journey and share it with you.

Thank you for taking the time to read the start of this new chapter and for all your support I will be forever grateful for.

- James

Studio Photos by Willis Salomon

AUG 22ND 2020