NAT U R E A RT BY JA M E S BI L L IT E R • PA R K+V I N E • A PR I L 26 -M AY 25, 2014
Naturally Cincy AN ARTIST’S STATEMENT BY JA MES BILLITER
I am a lifelong Cincinnatian who was reared on family camping trips into the Great Outdoors. I cherished these trips into Nature where life was simpler and more elemental. But as a city slicker there is a divide between my everyday life and the mystery of the Natural world. Over the past several years I find myself often spending time outside and have reconnected with Nature. Through hiking, cycling, running and rowing I observe plants and animals. With child-like wonder I take in these new experiences compelled to unravel these mysteries — I find myself inspired. Along my bike commutes I see the sun rise over our majestic Ohio River valley and glow golden as it sets in the west. The light sparkes and dances along our hillsides. I can’t capture these moments with a camera so I replicate their beauty in my landscapes.
As a boy I was captivated by the work of Charley Harper, I found his style based upon elementary forms delightful and inventive. As I have gotten older the work of Harper, along with John Ruthven and John James Audubon have inspired me as a designer and illustrator and this new collection of animal artwork that I have observed in nature. Between our City Parks, the nature preserves and our great river ecosystems we are blessed with an abundance of Nature around us. I want my work to inspire all of us to appreciate these Natural resources and for us to celebrate conservation on this 45th anniversary of Earth Day.
Rivers for Life: an illustration for The Nature Conservancy
THANK YOU TO THESE PEOPLE FOR MAKING MY EXHIBIT POSSIBLE:
My wife Bridget & dog Kona
Aaron Kent DIY Printing
Dan Korman Park+Vine
My family & friends
Rick Conner & my LPK family
Plaza Art & Rock Paper Scissors
John Muir Quote 2014 8” x 10” Four color silkscreen
B-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-d-s 2014 10” x 8” Digital Print
View from Eden Park
Winter Hawks 2014 16” x 10” Two color silkscreen
2011 16” x 8” Four Color Laserjet $15 print $35 framed
I love to stop by this overlook during my commutes and enjoy the changing of the seasons.
Sunrise over the Ohio River Valley: Scene from Eden Park 2011 17in x 9in 4-color laserjet
Got the Blues 2013 Digital print on melamine
Autumn Leaves 2014 5” x 5” Ink on canvas
Downy Drilling 2014 14” x 11” Digital Print
Winter Feast 2013 10” x 8.5” Digital Print
Sunrise Moonset 2013 12” x 12” Three color split-fountain silkscreen
Ice Falls 2014 11” x 14” Two color silkscreen
Hazy Ohio River Day 2014 16” x 10” Two color silkscreen
Is There a Deer Here? 2014 14” x 11” Digital Print
Traffic Jam 2014 10” x 30” Digital print on canvas
Cincinnati Sunset 2014 25” x 12.875” Four color silkscreen
Forest Trees Sunset 2014 10” x 10” One color split-fountain silkscreen
Night Owl 2013 10” x 10” Digital Print
Apendix
My approach and process BY JAMES BILLITER
13 10” x 8.5” Digital Print
Funnily enough, I painted this almost twenty years ago.