I am a landscape painter. I was born and raised in a small town in the tidewater region of Virginia. The area is rich in history and much of my free time was spent in the fields and streams, and roaming the forest. The fields of peanuts and beans, bound by long legged pine trees, are ingrained in my soul. I painted realistic watercolors of the area for many years then began to simplify my compositions.

 

     A rafting trip through the Grand Canyon introduced me to the western landscape with its big sky, rich colors and many textures. My paintings became more simple in composition but more complex in color and texture. They are not site-specific, but relate to my impressions of the canyons and prairies of the west. Edges, texture and surface are important elements of my work.

                                                                        Jim Pittman