James Verbicky

James Verbicky draws inspiration in his own work. The ability to feed off of his previous momentum and visualize changes in his work creates a spontaneity he feels is important in his art. Verbicky is also connected to nature and especially the ocean. He points out that much of his work is considered atmospheric, influenced by his time spent surfing the California coast.

Considered an abstract expressionist, Verbicky states that his work is less about what goes on the canvas and more about what he takes away from each painting. He always paints quickly, afraid to risk losing momentum.
“I do not like work that is too contrived, that’s too planned out; I like my work to be very spontaneous,” Verbicky said.

Some of his best artistic discoveries have been by accident. Critics have described his art as a capture of  the artificial and transitory moments of contemporary life.

He likes to think that an artist is much like an archeologist. Each discovery marks where he has been and points him into uncharted territory. As a self-taught artist, Verbicky has learned through research and application. At the age of four, his teachers noticed he was creating three-dimensional art and informed his parents of this extraordinary accomplishment. His parents, wishing to encourage his talent, enrolled him in oil painting classes. This early support helped launch an art career that started with his first sale at age fifteen.

Working mostly in mixed media with an acrylic base, Verbicky tends to work large. “Large scale pieces have more impact to the viewer; they can feel the same thing that I felt when I was doing it,” he said.

He rotates oil paintings into his work, but with their longer drying times, it is not always possible to paint daily. When asked about any meaningful statements conveyed in his art, Verbicky stated that it should not be about what he says with his art, but what the viewer takes from the art.

A native of Canada, Verbicky travels regularly between his native country and Southern California, where he has resided for over five years.  His artistic achievements netted him an Extraordinary Talent Green Card for permanent residency in United States.

A recent series of paintings titled, “Continuum,” has been a statement to his evolution as an artist. He considers the collection to be the actualization of art serving the purpose of stopping time, allowing one to process and integrate the meaning present in a passing moment. Each piece marks a progression along this timeline, where one contributes to the next. James states that each time our eyes open to something new, we are changed, we evolve.

Verbicky considers his current focus to be acquiring museum exhibits and more European exposure for his art. He points out that his recent invitation to exhibit at the prestigious Louvre Museum’s Societe Nationale Des Beaux-Arts Select American Delegation later this year fits nicely into those future goals.

A partial listing of his current collectors include Lara Stone (the new face of Calvin Klein), actor Cameron Mathison, the owners of the much photographed Frank Sinatra Estate, the Chicago Art Museum, Brad Rambo (Independent Trading Co.), Jim Overman (vice president of NBC), the owners of Smith & Wesson and Cedarhurst Art Museum in Illinois.

Future shows include a solo show in September at the Elliot Louis Gallery in Vancouver, B.C., a solo show in December at the Madison Gallery in La Jolla, The Louvre SNBA show in December and the Guggenheim Project 2010 titled, “A Day in the Life.”

The art of James Verbicky can be found at jamesverbicky.com.