ABOUT JAMES
My exposure to the professional art world started at a young age as my parents were both art educators. I received a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration and Management from Northern Michigan University in December of 2008. I then moved to Minnesota and discovered the Northern Clay Center. At the NCC I was able to meet some of the professionals who exposed me to different opportunities for ceramic artists. It was there that I decided to pursue clay as a career. I moved back to Michigan and began post-baccalaureate studies at Northern Michigan University to refine my skills and to build a portfolio to transition from BS/BFA to MFA. I found my love of kiln firing and construction at NMU, which has expanded my knowledge and added a new area of the ceramic process to explore.
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ARTIST STATEMENT
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"I consider myself more of a problem solver than an artist, therefore I find that the art I create comes from problems I have previously solved or just discovered. Problems arise everywhere in ceramics and to be able to have or to find a solution in any setting with any range of equipment or resources is what drives my art. The greatest problem I have come across is that of efficiency and consistency of both form and materials. For me, efficiency comes from having an arsenal of skills and knowledge that work effectively in any situation. In the past, I have challenged myself to be efficient by utilizing as much of a given material to create a consistent and uniform piece over and over again. Generally, I am a functional potter striving for consistency in form and development of glazes. Currently, I have been focusing on sculptural pieces that showcase the breadth of skills that I have developed from solving past problems."
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Art in Action
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