James Little — The Joy Project

Continuing the Art of Play
November 30, 2022

Artist: James Little

Join Zoom Meeting / Class
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87618016665

James Little is a master in the field of contemporary American abstract painting. In an age that frequently trades durability and patience for ephemerality and instant gratification, Little might be seen as an outlier. A careful, precise, disciplined perfectionist who emphasizes personal improvement over outside recognition, Little offers an alternative definition of influencer to a culture obsessed with quick returns and fame for fame's sake.

NYT - James Little, Unapologetic Abstractionist Painter, Catches the Limelight

DOWNLOAD NEW YORK TIMES PDF

The Visualist

At his longtime studio on Hope Street in Williamsburg, the artist said that working outside the limelight allowed him to find his voice and personalize his art. “I knew the recognition was going to happen sooner or later,” said Mr. Little, who has stayed true to his labor-intensive approach to abstraction emphasizing color, design and structure. “I’ve always been in the mix.”

Source: NYT

Warm-up:

Think patterns, precise defined edges, or masked surfaces. Be inspired by Little’s work or entertain your own abstract ideas with a message. We will begin playing with pattern, shape, colors, or tone on tone painting. Perhaps explore the cutout or masking idea.

Project:

The finished project will be the result of your exploration of an idea or a process.

Commit to your process and see what it reveals!