Karen Francesca James

Spring 2008

Karen Francesca James will premiere a new series of work at Cerulean Gallery from Friday, May 16 through June 14, 2008. The pieces are a type of modern sculpture on canvass, creating one-of-a-kind works of art with layers of heavy texture created through mixed medium and acrylic paint. The series currently encompasses four themes that range in colors and style including:

·         “Spice it Up” (Red series)

·         “Calm Reflections” (Blue series)

·         “Along for the Journey” (Green series)

·         “Beyond Our Reach” (White pearlescent series)

Two of the paintings, “Water Pebbles” from the Calm Reflections series and “Ghost Horse” from the Beyond Our Reach series will be donated for a silent auction. The auction will take place on Friday, May 16 from 6-9 p.m. at Cerulean Gallery’s opening night exhibition. The artist will donate 100 percent of the proceeds raised from the auction to the Make a Wish Foundation of North Texas (MAWFNT).

The artist will also donate a percentage of the proceeds from all her works sold during the exhibition to the foundation to support a child’s Adventure wish.

Karen’s art is inspired by her late husband, who encouraged her, just a few days before he died, to pursue a new style she was experimenting with that had a modern heavy abstract form. Based on his last words of praise and enthusiasm, Karen developed this style into its current form and has since created more than two dozen pieces. Karen is passionate about using her art to help enhance the lives of children and teenagers and is dedicated to raising money to support organizations that impact youth.

“Spice it Up” (Red series)

In this series of heavily textured paintings, artist Karen Francesca James features a spectrum of bold reds that are designed to pull the observer in and capture intrigue. As you look closer, the canvas appear almost like a sculpture as layers of mixed-medium textures and acrylic paint are built up and then sealed with a high gloss for a stunning impact.

The artist captures high drama with “Red Rain,” as paint flows down the canvas like lava and appears to almost drip onto the floor.

In “Tear Down that Wall Mr. Gorbachev,” the artist has created a brick-like effect by carving out the texture on the canvas. On a long skinny canvas, this piece is symbolic of its name and depicts the barriers that separate people.

The artist expands her range of emotion with the more playful piece “Sunny Side Up,” reminding some of an early morning breakfast. Along this same theme, “Paprika” is spice-inspired and rich in vivid colors.

The artist concludes this theme of colorful paintings with “Sunset,” effectively portrayed with heavy mounds of texture, symbolizing a setting sun.

Any one of these works is sure to spice up a room.

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“Calm Reflections” (Blue series)

Artist Karen Francesca James creates a sense of calm with this theme of predominately blue paintings that play off reflections from water and those from our memories. One of her most stunning pieces, “Water Pebbles,” resembles water traveling over small pebbles at the bottom of a stream. This is a silent auction piece, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Make a Wish Foundation of North Texas.

In this series, the textures in the art work range significantly in thickness and are created by building up the canvas, in various degrees, with layers of mixed-medium and acrylic paint. The style creates one-of-a-kind pieces that have a sculpture like appearance.

The theme of water is carried through to “Water Ways,” which depicts a waterfall effect as the paint slides down the canvas.

The artist then moves beyond water and reflects upon picking blueberries on “Blueberry Hill” and continues with the memory of eating a perfect plum on a warm summer day depicted in “Plum Delight”.

The theme concludes with “Blue Haze,” as the observer steps in closer to see a more complex work of art than originally sensed from the distance.

These works of art stir up a sense of calm reflections and set the tone for a soothing setting.

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“Along for the Journey” (Green series)

In this series, artist Karen Francesca James takes the observer along for a journey. Her upbeat tones of green are accentuated by the high glossed heavy textured canvas of mixed medium and acrylic paints.

In her painting “Garden of Eden,” a snake protrudes on the canvass and the use of texture make it almost irresistible not to touch.

            From the garden, to “Mardi Gras,” the artist’s use of color is reminiscent of multi-colored streamers signifying a celebration is underway.

            For those with a decadent sweet tooth, “Iced Affair” and “Sweet Confection” borrow their appearance from the fancy swirls of icing often found a top a Napoleon pastry.

            The artist ends the journey with a simplistic textured piece, “Barefoot in the Park”. Just like the feeling of grass under your feet, this artwork too, is simple but very effective.

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“Beyond Our Reach” (White pearlescent series)

From elegance to intrigue this series of predominantly white paintings stands in stark contrast to artist Karen Francesca James’ other colorful series. She has created sculpture like works of art by building up the canvass with layers of mixed-medium textures and acrylic paint. The paintings in this series are highlighted with white pearlescent, gold and silver paint.

 One of artist’s premier pieces “White Russian” is a modernized version of the opulence found in the Czar’s palace.

Another favorite, which is a silent auction piece, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Make a Wish Foundation of North Texas, is “Ghost Horse.” In the painting, you can see the outline of a white horse with the dripping paint creating its legs. The horse glances at a lasso, but it will never be caught. 

In “Harvest Moon” and “Heart of Gold”, the artist has built out the textures, defining random squares and rectangles throughout the piece. While appearing quite simple from a distance, the color scheme of whites, browns and gold becomes more complex as the observer approaches the painting. “Heart of Gold” receives its name for the concentration of gold in the center of the painting.

While different in appearance, the artist carries over the while pearlescent into a more whimsical piece “Firefly” that depicts an illuminating path.  Whether it the riches of a king, vapors in a mist, an unattainable love or nature’s mysteries, these paintings go beyond our reach.