James Sampsel

James’ oils showcase the life that he leads with representations of what he experiences in nature, his travels, and time spent with different people and cultures. He predominantly paints outdoors in the Pacific Northwest but has no boundaries in which he will explore. His alla prima techniques express his emotions to bring the viewer to the natural world. The paintings are typically derived from a single session ensuring his head and heart space remain true and hand consistent.

As a professional fly-fishing guide, he’s drawn to rivers and the pursuit of angling for anadromous fish. Much of his work touches the hearts of anglers, especially those familiar with the Deschutes, Rogue, and Umpqua Rivers in Oregon. His spiritual connection with nature keeps his pallet brilliant and brushes curious to explore more.

His other interests are the effect of time and the impact of human life. All is forever changing and is never the same with the expansion of time. Exploring the decrepit and the patinas exhibited in the everyday is of strong interest and his work reflect this. He desires to capture what will soon be lost so that we have a record of what was.

“Whether my subjects are fishing vessels or forgotten homes and buildings, there’s a story there that I want the viewer to recognize. My hope is that I continue to grow as an artist by keeping an open heart to new experiences and the most difficult of challenges.” – James Sampsel

James currently lives in Port Orford Oregon with his wife Kait, two children Juniper and Desmond, and their black Labrador Aster where the ocean and rivers are still wild and much of the landscape is still untouched.