"Lucid Dreaming" Painting

ABOUT BRITTANY JAMES: As a Jersey Shore native, Brittany James began painting in Island Heights NJ and was inspired by the beauty of her surroundings. Nature has always been a big influence in her work and continues to be today. All of James’ paintings are derived from a combination of photo references and imagined scenes to create the surreal images she paints. She is experienced in oil painting, acrylic murals, performance art, charcoal drawing, pastel, life drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. JAMES ON HER WORK: Painting is my way of escaping reality. With a brush in my hand all of my surroundings and thoughts disappear, and my mind enters a new world within the canvas. For those hours that I am painting, I am temporarily existing in a dreamlike state. I often paint my dreams and am inspired by imagery that evokes emotions. The purpose of my paintings is to make the viewers feel as if they are escaping by looking at my art, the same way I feel while creating it. This has been my source of inspiration for over the past decade. I have represented the theme of escapism in forms of flying, floating, sleeping, dying, dreaming, disappearing, and being born. I enjoy making art that tells a story, and I especially like when that story can be interpreted in different ways by each viewer. Artists are seekers, always trying to understand the underlying, hidden truths. Nothing is exactly as it seems and reality is often hidden behind illusions. Lately I have taken a more feministic approach to this thought. I am currently focused on the struggle some women face trying to find the delicate balance between wanting to be feminine and domestic, versus wild and free, and trying to be both at the same time. This is some of the most surrealistic work I have created so far in my ever evolving artistic career. The healing therapy of art- making and self-expression has been very important to me throughout my life as well, and is something I continue to share with others through painting. I could not be who I am today without the ability and freedom to channel my thoughts onto a canvas. Whether it be through creating or teaching, I want to continue to make an impact on others lives through art. That makes me feel like I am doing my job as an artist.