Fig Tree Gallery
The longest-running, member-sponsored art gallery in California
Jim Campbell
Artist’s Statement
Since attending Fresno State in the early 1970’s I have always felt an affinity to hard edge painting as exemplified by Frank Stella, Al Held, Gene Davis, and Kenneth Noland. Also color field painters such as Morris Louis, Paul Jenkins, Mark Rothko, Clyfford Still, Helen Frankenthaler, and Barnett Newman have been a source of inspiration.
When viewing the works of the painters mentioned above, I see their canvases as portals to a place where ones mind can travel and where problems vanish and creativity and tranquility abound.
However, art being a form of communication, I can’t resist putting in my two cents worth with work that is topical or that comments on socio/economic issues.
Ultimately, my goal is to create paintings that are compelling to look at.
“The best works are those with the fewest and simplest elements – pictures that are almost obvious, until you look at them a little more and things begin to happen.”
– Clifford Still
“The fact is I’m an intuitive painter, a direct painter…I present no dogma, no system, no demonstrations. I have no formal solutions…I work only out of high passion”
– Barnett Newman