James Conlan

Artist Statement

After earning a BA in English Literature and serving in the Peace Corps, I was accepted in 1972 to study painting at the University of Michigan School of Art. Graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BFA, I quickly established a relationship with a gallery in Birmingham, Michigan. But the needs of marriage and fatherhood suggested I find a more regular paycheck, so I applied my visual skills to the world of advertising. Still, I never lost sight of the work I began decades ago. In 2025 I resumed painting at the urging of my daughter. The theme of my paintings, both old and new, is what I call "Inscapes" - a reimagining of the ambiguities of earth, air and water. My painting employs a stain technique I observed originally in the work of Helen Frankenthaler. My process involves laying a polyester/cotton-blend canvas on a horizontal armature. This allows me to approach the work from any angle, flipping the painting over to work on both surfaces. It is only after some time passes that I am able to say which side and which orientation will be the one to present. Then I add final touches of paint and charcoal or crayon for definition and contrast.