Today we’d like to introduce you to James Zamora.
Thanks for sharing your story with us James. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When I was a child, witnessing someone create a picture on paper fascinated me. Specifically, how basic geometric shapes can become form. So I began to draw what I knew, and what I knew were Power Rangers. As the 90s progressed an epic movie came out called Titanic. When Rose looked through Jack’s sketchbook, it was this that really pulled me out of drawing quite illustrative and began to see those basic geometric shapes and forms WITH value shifts from darks to light. I took drawing seriously and in my senior year of high school in 2006, my art teacher suggested I try painting. I began to look through painting references, and when I stumbled upon a Monet book it sparked an inspirational energy where I made countless master copies using oil. I went to the University of North Texas and received my BFA in painting and drawing. Upon graduating in 2010 I started finding my voice as a painter and began to practice my realism. In those two years I had received gallery representation with Ro2 Art Gallery in Dallas. In 2012 I was accepted into the MFA Painting program at Texas Woman’s University where I began my Grocery Aisle series of paintings. That series was published in New American Paintings West No. 114, and from there I received 4 more galleries across the US and began my career as a full-time artist. I have another series called “#interiors from @Instagram” which was also published in New American Paintings No. 126 just two years later. I had a solo show that opened just this summer with Bryant Street Gallery in Palo Alto, CA. And am currently working on a solo exhibition opening this month with Ro2 Art. I look back at where I started and where I am at now and what I gather from those experiences is that I kept going with purpose and dedication.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was a road full of growth. My practice had to become much more disciplined when I graduated with my BFA in 2010. And those two years, before I started my MFA, was a time to really focus on discipline, because I knew there was not enough discipline in my practice to gain any traction as an artist. There are still many challenges ahead and I have not stopped learning with every painting; or in those periods where I have not made any sales, but I just could not see myself giving up on the call of being an artist.
Please tell us about James Zamora Painting.
I am an oil painter specializing in realism. I am known for my grocery aisle paintings and my more realistic renderings of still life. I am currently practicing on a more painterly approach to all my most recent paintings.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I really love transitions. As a child going to school, one witnesses transitions throughout the school year. You start nervous and not knowing anyone really and the weather is still very hot in Texas. As the weather cools and you smell the cold fronts come in and you start to build relationships with other students, you find yourself a little bolder, and your personality begins to flourish. Then Christmas break, and I love Christmas everything. You go back to school and you miss your friends, the weather begins to warm, rather quickly in Texas again, Spring is here, then Summer Vacation where you try and hang out with your closest best friends for two months as much as you can. I love transitions and that’s a really big reason why I love teaching, to be as close as possible to those experiences.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jameszamora.com
- Phone: 9402313364
- Email: jameszamorapainting@gmail.com
- Instagram: jameszamora
- Facebook: facebook.com/jameszamorapainting
Image Credit:
Allison Harp Photography
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