Artist of the Month November 2014

James and Lynn Lemyre

Mount Holly, New Jersey

Jim Lemyre is a native South Jersey artist, born and raised in Mount Holly. Jim and his wife, Lynn, are collaborative artists. They both have been making art since they were children. They met at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ where they were both studying art. Their collaboration started almost immediately by just talking about ideas with each other. These conversations became essential ingredients of each other’s work. As their relationship developed, they became so close that they felt comfortable working on each other’s painting as they progressed.

How and when did you start creating art?

Both of us have individually been making art since we were children. We've been collaborating for almost twenty years.

What media and genres do you work in?

Working in oil, with meticulous attention to detail, we paint landscapes of the imagination on canvas and gessoed masonite panel. Incongruent combinations, dual imagery and unlikely scenarios create moments of visual poetry and reveal hidden meanings.

Who or what are your influences?

The surrealist movement and the work of the psychologist Carl Jung are major influences on our painting. Surrealism taps into what Jung called the "collective unconscious" and hints at the mysterious connection we all have with each other. There are symbols that resonate across time and cultures. It is through metaphor that we get a glimpse of the universal and find our connection to other human beings, the world, and the eternal.

What was your inspiration for This is What it Looks Like?

One of our favorite themes to explore is the idea of thresholds as a meeting place between the worlds of imagination and reality, dream and consciousness, the individual and the collective. This is expressed in this painting by blurring the lines between an intimate interior scene with and expansive landscape.

Describe your creative process?

Our collaboration started almost as soon as we met by just talking about ideas with each other. These conversations became essential ingredients of each other’s work. The real value of our collaboration comes in the more conceptual states of the artistic process; inspiration, criticism, and refinement of ideas. It is art as dialogue rather than monologue. Paintings are produced in one of two ways. Sometimes the painting is passed back and forth between us and we paint in reaction to what the other has painted. We also work through sketches with this process, planning ahead what will go on the canvas and then creating the painting.

What are you working on currently?

Currently we’re working on commission pieces. We love to collaborate with others to make their visions and dreams become realized on the canvas.

What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

Our goal is to create and make interesting art that continues to connect with people.

Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?

We sell our art on the website and at outdoor arts festivals around the country. We are also represented by Gallery Piquel in New Hope, PA.