I paint because it’s the strongest emotion I know. I see a landscape, and my thought is ‘I have got to paint that’. It’s always been that way.
I remember as a kid going camping and fishing with my family. When we’d come home, I’d feel like I had to do something about it. I would paint two or three paintings just from one experience.
When I’m painting, I like to think in terms of shapes first, and look at the big picture. Looking at how dramatic lighting can affect the whole landscape is a lot more important than paying too much attention to the details of every little leaf or branch. I like to be outside where I can do my sketch and just try to match the colors and the atmosphere as close as I can while I’m looking at it, there’s something pleasing about a field painting ; their blockier, and not as refined . Being outside inspires you, makes you think of things you wouldn’t have. Nature stimulates your imagination.
My paintings appeal to people who feel the same emotions that I do when I’m outside, if an artist can just expresses his feelings about a subject in his work, that’s the best that he can do. You just have to go with your feelings.
A professional painter since 1978, James Poulson primarily paints landscapes in oil. Poulson’s first professional art show at the Castle Gallery in Billings, Montana featured regional scenery, cozy cabins in snowy winter nights and still lifes. Poulson’s style has evolved to an unparalleled level of quality, yet he returns to refine and expand some of his early subject matter.
Poulson has been influenced by many painters past and present. Early masters who have influenced Poulson are Joseph Henry Sharp (1859-1953) and the Taos Society of Artists, many of the American Tonalist Painters such as George Inness (1825-1894) and the American Impressionists such as Frank Benson (1862-1951) and Willard Metcalf (1858-1925).
Most of his professional study has been with other artists such as Clyde Aspevig, Bob Barlow, Loren Entz, Charles Fritz, Joyce Lee, Taylor Lynde and Tim Shinabarger. Further artistic exchange and encouragement has come from these artists in the way of group critiques of each other’s work. They share not only the love of the land but also their artistic knowledge and expertise with each other.
Christine Mollring, in her two-volume set of books on the Erivan and Helga Haub Family Collection of Western Art, wrote of Poulson, “In 1978, Poulson met Clyde Aspevig, who encouraged him to paint directly from nature just as Robert Lougheed had encouraged Wayne Wolfe to do.” Poulson’s painting “Distant Thunder” is part of the Haub Family Collection and can be found in Volume II, page 136. Poulson’s friendship with Aspevig started in the late 1970’s and today he continues to be inspired by Aspevig’s work.
Poulson’s art is exceedingly influenced by Western landscapes. Of his work he says, “I paint my life and my life is mainly landscapes.” That same artistic passion and exhilaration that stems from his painting can also be found in his guitar playing. Poulson, too modest to say so himself, plays the guitar at a highly sophisticated level. Poulson’s guitar playing is as vast as his landscape art is expansive.
James Poulson continues to paint and play guitar in Montana pleasing audiences with his talents. His artwork can be found in many important private and public collections.
Literature:
- 2006 The Montana Arts and Culture Magazine, cover story, October Issue
- 2005 Erivan and Helga Haub Family Collection of Western Art Book
-2000 Art for the Parks by Rachel Rubin Wolf for North Light Books (This collection features some of the best images from the Arts for the Parks Top 100 competition. The book includes three Poulson paintings.)
-1999 Yellowstone Art Museum "The Montana "Collection" features a Poulson painting "December Evening", page 78
-1998 Big Sky Journal, Fly Fishing Issue "Artists of Montana" by Seabring Davis featured six Poulson paintings and an interview with the artist.
-1988 Southwest Art Magazine "Creative Process" by Jack Hines featured James Poulson and Scott Switzer
Public and Private Collections:
- Billings Clinic, Billings, Montana
- Erivan and Helga Haub Family Collection, Cora, Wyoming
- Bill and Joffa Kerr, Jackson, Wyoming
- Christine and Ted Mollring, Jackson, Wyoming
- Rockefeller Family
- Stockman Bank, Billings, Montana
- Darell and Robin Tunnicliff, Billings, Montana
- Fredrick J. Urbaska Investments, Billings, Montana
- Yellowstone Art Museum Permanent Collection, Billings, Montana
- Yellowstone Bank, Billings, Montana
-2010 "Western Visions", The National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, Wyoming, twenty year participant
-2010 Yellowstone Art Museum Art Auction Billings, Montana
-2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 "American Art in Miniature", Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma
-2008, 2007 "Masters in Miniature", the C.M. Russell Auction, Great Falls, Montana
-2005 "Landscapes of the West", Legacy Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming
-2000 Montana Arts Council Art Fellowship
-1997 "Masters in Montana", Chaparral Fine Art, Bozeman, Montana, Featured Artist and poster
-1997 "Arts for the Parks Top 100 Collectors "Choice Award for Willow Flats, Wyoming"
-1996 "Masters in Montana", Chaparral Fine Art, Bozeman, Montana, Collectors Choice Award for "Teton Pond"
-1995 "Lasting Impressions", Trailside Americana Fine Art Galleries, Carmel, California
-1993 "Landscapes of the American West", Settlers West, Tucson, Arizona
-1993 Coeur d'Alene Art Auction, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
-1990 "Artists of the '90's", Trailside Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming