James Bonner Answers "4 Questions"
1. Your stories/memories are personal. What do you think about viewers
bringing their own interpretation to your paintings?
A lot of my paintings, particularly the oil, egg tempera or acrylic paintings, have
a hidden narrative for sure. It’s okay with me if my intended narrative never is
realized by the viewer, because I really don’t mind if they develop their own
through their emotional interaction with the work. However, what is most important
to me is that the painting just evokes SOME emotional interaction with them.
2. How do you overcome creative blocks?
I consider myself a sort of “blue collar” painter so for me a creative block is just
something to keep working through. It’s all about going in the studio day-after-day
and plugging away. Much of being a Realist Painter is technically repetitive while
working in layers of paint. Now when the painting gets to a certain point where it
becomes seemingly tangible or it “comes alive”, well that’s when it becomes
extremely exciting and hence quite addictive. That’s what keeps you going.
3. What is your biggest inspiration?
The state of Maine. All the Artists I studied and admired as a young man like:
Andrew and Jamie Wyeth, Edward Hopper, Winslow Homer, Rockwell Kent,
Fairfield Porter, Alex Katz, to name a few, all painted in Maine. I had to go see this
magical place for myself. After my first visit in 1995 I was hooked for life. Maine
has always been a mysterious “what’s around the next dark Spruce lined bend”
kind of place to me. Truly beautiful and gritty all at the same time. I’m inspired
mostly to paint, not what oftentimes is considered the quintessential Maine tourist
scene, but more likely something or someone that shows the time worn patina of
many Maine seasons gone by. These subjects fade into the background of life and
are considered mundane to many. My desire is to become emotionally involved
with the subject in order to elevate and tell a story, whether it be straightforward
or commingled with my own narrative.
4. How does your art affect other aspects of your life?
That’s easy, as it consumes me everyday. I’m pretty boring really, as all I do or
care to do is something related to producing my art. If I’m not painting or making
frames for my paintings, I’m always on the look out for the next painting. Or I’m
daydreaming about an idea I might develop into a new painting. From time to time,
there’s also problems within a particular painting that can consume you mentally
for days on end, which can be maddening. So as you can see, for most I’d
probably be considered pretty boring, luckily I revel in it.
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