studio 2008
James Stillwell was raised in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and attained a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree (1999) from Parsons School of Design located in Greenwich Village, New York City's renowned creative neighborhood. While developing his own artistic voice, he worked as a studio assistant to Helene Brandt and freelance assistant to Don Porcaro and Charles Simmonds. Through this experience his own artwork evolved and matured.
He draws inspiration from contemporary painters David Mann, Clifford Still, and Lucien Freud. Historical influences include Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. He currently resides in Portland, Oregon, where he continues to create artwork.
This force has been a part of humanity since we, as a whole, became aware of ourselves as a living organism. As a race we have been witness and willing participant in this fluid symphony: we age, our habits differ with the seasons, our skin and hair change color. Change is a part of our lives and is also reflected upon our lives from the outside world. This intrinsic movement of the natural world, this magic, is the inspiration for my artwork. I seek to capture slow and steady motion through colors and shapes found in the Natural world, to reflect those aspects inside and outside of ourselves that continually change.