Sam James
Latest News
OPEN STUDIOS
Margaret River Region Open Studios 2024
Australia's largest Open Studio Event. I am participating once again in the 2024 Margaret River Region Open Studios. It will be my 6th straight year in 2024. My studio will be open most days CLICK HERE for opening times and directions. Come and visit me in my studio and have a chat. I'm located in Forest Grove, just south of the town of Witchcliffe
Cossack Art Prize
2024
I was thrilled to be awarded the Cossack Art Prize in the portraiture category this year. The award and accompanying exhibition has been a staple on the arts calender for the past 30 years and is one of the richest regional arts prizes in Australia. It is also unique with the exhibition being held in the uninhabited ghost town of Cossack in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
My portrait is of my partner Rachael and is entitled "Rachael in the Rain". It is a portrait which records a feeling and a moment in time. Mainly the moment when we recieved the first significant rainfall for the year after the longest driest period on record in our hometown of Margaret River. It also documents the feeling of relief when the rain finally came. Additionally I wanted to convey some ambiguity in the expression on the face in the portrait as we are still needing lots more rain to fill dams and rainwater tanks.
I attended the Gala Awards Evening in Cossack on the 20th of July to accept my award and give my acceptance speech. This is a pretty major award for me to win and I am very proud of my achievement. It was really great to meet many of the other finalists and to speak to the lovely couple who sponsored my award. It was amazing also to meet the judges and recieve their feedback in person.
Incognito Art Show
2024
I contributed two A5 sized artworks to the Incognito Art show in Sydney, NSW. The exhibition has a great idea as it's premise- artists at any stage in their career (from budding amateurs to big name professionals) are able to exhibit up to 3 works for their annual show in Sydney. The catch is that the artists names are not revealed to the buyers until the artworks are purchased. That means the buyers could be buying work from a big name artist or a school child.
The exhibition is for a good cause as all money raised from the exhibition is given to two local charities that helps artists with disabilities. Works are available to purchase in person on the weekend of the 13th and 14th of July and then online after that at their website: https://www.incognitoartshow.com
Visual Stories Art Award
Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival 2024
I was honoured to be awarded second prize for my painting "Walking on Wadandi" as part of the 2024 Visual Stories Art Award. The exhibition and prize is an annual event and part of the Margaret River Readers and Writers festival. There was a record 88 entries that were submitted this year and they are all currently on show now at the Margaret River HEART for the duration of the festival and a week either side of it. There were some really well known and well regarded artists that entered this year so it was a fantastic moment when I heard my name read out by the judges. Don't forget to vote for me in the peoples choice!
I am excited to be part of the inaugural Temp200, located at the Temp gallery in Perth. The Temp200 is an open call exhibition for West Australian artists. The exhibition features 400 artworks by over 200 artists, from hobbyists to some of our most well-known creatives.
I submitted 2 artworks, both on A5 sized paper, which were provided by the organisers. Each work is for sale at the highly collectible price of $200 each. Have a look at the exhibition at the Alexandra Theatre, 627 Albany Hwy, Victoria Park. It's on from the 24th of April to the 10th of May. You can also view and purchase pieces through their website : https://www.tempgallery.com.au
North, South,East, West
Easter Long
Weekend Exhibition
I have a selection of paintings as part of the group exhibition- North, South, East, West. The exhibition is a culmination of regular art catch ups over the past few months with the three other artists who are also exhibiting.
These sessions include a diverse range of subject matter. One session might involve setting up a still life, another would see us paint each others portraits or other times would see us work on our own work that we brought along to a session.
The exhibition will be on for the five days of the Easter long weekend- Friday the 28th March until Tuesday the 1st of April. An opening night with drinks and nibbles will be on Friday the 28th of March
OPEN STUDIOS
Margaret River Region Open Studios 2023
9th September to 24th September
Australia's largest Open Studio Event. Once again I am participating in the 2023 Margaret River Region Open Studios. It's a bit of milestone for me and the event, being my 5th straight year and the 10 year anniversary for the event. My studio will be open most days CLICK HERE for opening times and directions. Come and visit me in my studio and have a chat. I'm located in Forest Grove, just south of the town of Witchcliffe
MANDURAH 9x5
ART PRIZE
Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
I have 2 pieces selected and being exhibited as part of the 2023 Mandurah 9x5 Art Prize. This years theme revolves around the idea of maps and mapping. My piece came about as a response to one of my part time jobs. It was the idea of flavour mapping within the vineyard and the attention to detail from the winemaker that goes into extracting the flavours from the grapes that they want in the finished wine. There is some brilliant artists and artworks on display for the exhibition. Exhibition is on from the 21st of July to the 8th of September
STATIC LIVING
STILL LIFE POP UP SHOW
4076 Caves Road, Wilyabrup
Myself and 2 other local Margaret River artists, Angus Watkins and Stuart Mcmillan have been meeting up on a weekly basis. On these meetups we have each bought an object or objects and combined them to create impromptu still life arrangements, which we then all produce an artwork from.
After having produced a number of works we have decided to exhibit the paintings together in a pop up art show, located in Angus Watkins studio gallery, located on Caves Road in Wilyabrup. The Opening is on Friday, April the 21st 2023 at 6.30 pm. There will be drinks and nibbles on the night and the exhibition will go until the 5th of May 2023
MARRI TREE GALLERY
Officially Opening December 1st 2022
I'm excited to be a part of this new gallery space that's officially opening on December the 1st, 2022. The Marritree Gallery is located in the recently restored Darnell's store in Witchcliffe, Western Australia. I am exhibiting a range of works alongside two other local artists. It's a fantastic art space and the artisan store 'The Shed' is located in the same venue, 3 Redgate Rd, Witchcliffe, WA.
OPEN STUDIOS
Margaret River Region Open Studios 2022
10th September to 25th September
This year I am participating in my 4th consecutive Margaret River Region Open Studios. My studio will be open most days CLICK HERE for opening times and directions. Come and visit me in my studio and have a chat. I'm located in Forest Grove, just south of the town of Witchcliffe
EXHIBITION
Two Paths
Two Practices
Northcliffe., Western Australia
Exhibition runs from the 24th of July until the 28th of August, 2022.
A joint exhibition with myself and fellow Margaret River artist and prominent printmaker Francesco Geronazzo.
Join us for a special afternoon to celebrate the show with artist talks and canapés on the 20th of August from 2pm
PEMBERTON ART PRIZE 2022 HORIZON
Pemberton Sports Club
Exhibition runs from the 9th of April
to the 25th of April, 2022
My entry into the Pemberton Art Prize received an award at the presentation ceremony on the Friday night opening. The artwork documents my sisters family relocating to our family farm in the South West Of Western Australia and my nephew contemplating his new life 'Over the Horizon'.
EXHIBITION
Birds, Bees, Flowers and Fish
Exhibition on the 2nd & 3rd of April 2022 in a private out- door garden setting in Margaret River.
I entered the artwork "Pollen Party" into The Arts Margaret River April group exhibition entitled "Birds, Bees, Flowers and Fish".
Artists Statement- I am interested in the natural world and live on a farm with a collection of animals and a vegetable garden. I painted this piece after working in the garden one day and observed a group of bees in one flower. It represents the important work that bees do and the connection of bees with us and the food that we eat