Working between studios in Edinburgh and Point on the Isle of Lewis, James Lumsden is fascinated by light and movement. Although essentially abstract, the most recent works suggest a sense of landscape and place which has developed from living on the island. Lumsden’s work is primarily concerned with process—a building up of translucent glazes until an illusion of light and depth are achieved. Using a historical glazing process, yet utilizing modern acrylic paint and mediums, the process involves the application of multiple thin glazes of acrylic paint and gloss medium. Each layer is dragged, pulled, or manipulated with various implements—the process being repeated layer upon layer until the painting begins to emerge. Arrived at by both chance and deliberation, the final painting reveals varying chromatic strata, which can be seen through the translucence and depth of the work.
James Lumsden was born in Inverness, Scotland. A professional member of the Society of Scottish Artists, he has received several awards, and undertaken various residencies including The Banff Art Centre in Canada, and The Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ireland. Recent solo exhibitions include Sarah Myerscough Gallery, London; Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary, Canada; MAC, Birmingham; An Tuireann, Isle of Skye; Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland; and Aalborg Trienalle, Denmark. He currently lives and works between Edinburgh and Point on The Isle of Lewis.
[excerpted from Holly Johnson Gallery website: www.hollyjohnsongallery.com]