James Blackwell's artwork centres on themes of nature, silence, structure and meditation. Utilizing natural materials gathered from the Australian bushland and other resources, he  reconfigures the materials into grid-like formations often in a 3 dimensional manner with the use of textured and handmade papers as a support. The overall effect produces intimate assemblages offering a contemplative space to reveal an aspect of tranquility and stillness. In addition to conveying calmness, the work  implies the passage of time. The objects intricate detail and evident focus on process reveal a steady hand and time spent engaging with the material. The ephemeral nature of the artist's material also invokes our own sense of transience or impermanence, bringing to our attention the degenerative nature of our own physicality. Despite this sombre thought, there is also a playful aspect to the artworks; gum leaves become written text, tufts of fragile stalk fluff balance precariously on tightropes of grass tree stems. "Part of the joy in creating theses works is seeing what can become of the easily discarded or ignored." Bushwalking in the Blue Mountains has become part of the artists lifestyle "I like to think of the valley floor as my art supply store!".

Gallery one  two  three  four  five  six  seven eight and nine

View Artist Education here

View Exhibition History here

View Awards Publications and  Achievements here

Favourite links here

News and upcoming events here

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contact: mob 0404 115 865    email: jblackwell66@gmail.com

"The beautiful is in nature, and it is encountered under the most diverse forms of reality. Once it is found it belongs to art or rather to the artist who discovers it"  - Gustave Courbet