On Exhibit: Jim Farmer
"The Mystery of Things" - Mixed Media
July 22 - September 5
Opening Reception: Thursday, July 25 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM
About the Artist:
Jim is a painter with studios in New York City and Warren, Connecticut. He has many visual influences, but mostly, he likes to mix images from popular culture (vintage coloring books, old matchbook covers, vintage ads, etc.) with nature and the natural world.
The process: “Describing my process is a little like trying to describe why I prefer strawberries over blueberries. It’s an ineffable thing. For me painting boils down to instinct. A kind of natural selection. Sometimes, waking in the middle of the night, I am seized by an image or composition. Then, once in front of the canvas I will try to apply that composition I conjured the night before. I am also somewhat of a pack rat. I’ve kept most of the coloring books and comic books and school workbooks from my childhood and sometimes use those images in my paintings. Getting a painting to completion is trial and error. I have painted over far more canvases than I’ve presented. So, my painting process boils down to a great degree of instinct, patience and a great degree of determination. It’s a lot of work getting a painting where it needs to be."
Besides painting, he has written, produced and directed a number of off Broadway plays in Manhattan. He has also composed music for film and TV. Some credits are Johnny Suede (Brad Pitt), Living in Oblivion (Steve Buscemi and Peter Dinklage), Box of Moonlight (John Turturro and Sam Rockwell).
Artist Statement:
"My academic failures were legendary especially to my parents. I grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey in the ’50s and ’60s. Bayonne in those days, to me, was parks, movie theaters, and ice cream trucks. When I hit 20, New York City held all the perfume. And in the mid-’70s the city was fertile with creatives. The Soho restaurants were humming with the like-minded and that’s where I found myself working.
Those days, my main devotion was music. I played and wrote and played and wrote. I got friendly with an ad guy that was a regular at the restaurant. He asked me if I would like to take a crack at scoring a 30-second spot. I did and won the job. Then another commercial, then another, then indie film scores. My restaurant days were numbered.
I had quite the nice run and, with the money I made, I wanted to see if I was any good at playwriting. I wrote, produced and directed 12 plays in a 20 year period and, one, as recent as last year, had its world premiere at The NY Fringe Festival.
However, my first love was always painting and drawing. Not too long ago, my wife and I stumbled upon a little Connecticut bungalow that had a detached painting studio. We bought the house and since then I’ve devoted a great deal of my time to painting and drawing. Those results I present to you now."
For a look at his work, his painting website is: jimfarmerart.com
The Jamie Gagarin Gallery and Exhibits at OWL
The Jamie Gagarin Gallery is a space dedicated to showcasing a diverse range of art for the enjoyment of our community. Exhibits rotate several times during the year and feature works for sale by artists.
All exhibits include an opening reception.
Patrons can meet the artist, have a first look at the artwork and enjoy refreshments. All exhibits and opening
receptions are free and open to the public.
Since the art gallery shares its space with the community and library events, it is recommended that you confirm
that the art gallery is open before visiting. Please call us at 860-567-8030.
How to Submit Art for Consideration for an Exhibit
All artwork exhibited is selected through a competitive, juried process by the Cultural Committee appointed by the President of the OWL Board of Trustees. The Cultural Committee uses guidelines in its selection including technique, price range, size of proposed work, type of medium, type and style of framing, and artist credentials.
For more detailed information on the submission process, click here.
Gallery Dimensions