James M. Ward

BFA Painting with a Minor in Design Thinking

Website: www.jmwstudios.com 
Instagram: @jmwstudios

ARTIST STATEMENT: When creating art, I take inspiration from the chaotic way emotions and thoughts swirl within my mind and influence both who I am and who I seek to be. Colors, shapes, forms, and movement can capture the essence of a feeling, and the ability to capture a piece of the self within the stroke of a brush or the pull of a palette knife is important to me. My artistic focus is centered around abstract or non-objective acrylic paintings on Yupo paper and canvas. Artistic expression is therapeutic for me and serves as a great tool to explore what is inside my being. Art also allows me to share with others the hidden moments within my soul that may be difficult to express through traditional communication methods. All of us have a desire to share ourselves and be recognized, and I invite viewers to look at my creations and interpret them in their own unique way.

I received a stage IV incurable cancer diagnosis several years ago. This forced me to confront my mortality and left me needing a tool to express myself. My senior showcase work aims to provide glimpses into my hidden mental, physical, and emotional struggles while aiming to help the viewers look within themselves for similar elements and moments.

Long before Covid came along I wore masks in public. These were not visible cloth or medical masks, but invisible masks known only to myself. I used these metaphorical masks to hide my physical and emotional struggles with my condition from the outside world and to portray a false sense of strength. But should these masks get torn away, they would reveal that I was broken, uncomfortable, in pain, and full of tumultuous emotions.

We all hide our true selves behind a mask at times, locking emotions and feelings behind a construct in an effort to portray ourselves to the world in a way of our own choosing. Our inner struggles may be hidden behind a façade designed to make us appear comfortable, confident, and capable. My artwork seeks to reveal a story about what hides beneath the invisible masks we all sometimes wear.