Ralph Grady James lives near Mocksville, North Carolina, and he attended N.C. School of the Arts in high school and later Indiana University to major in music, though he also had a passion for visual arts.
Ralph Grady James at a glance
- Nationality: American
- Based in: Near Mocksville, North Carolina
- Medium: Oil painting
- Known for: Paintings inspired by North Carolina’s mountains, coast and wildlife
- Education: N.C. School of the Arts (high school); Indiana University (music)
- Influences: His father, Eugene James, and an oil painting seminar led by Heiner Hertling
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” – Georgia O’Keeffe
Ralph Grady James’s original inspiration came from his father, Eugene James, who was an artist as well as an architect and structural engineer, and Ralph began wrestleing with capturing his own images even as a young boy.
Ralph Grady James attended a pivotal seminar led by Heiner Hertling that introduced him to oil painting, and the encouragement of working with local artists in a weekly drawing group has inspired Ralph to continue to stretch his ability.
Ralph Grady James has always loved North Carolina’s natural habitat, feeling fortunate to be close to both the Appalachian mountains and the Outer Banks, and he roamed the woods and fields of the family farm observing wildlife in the seasonal changes.
Ralph Grady James says painting is one way he uses to reflect what is within him and to interact with and touch those around him, and it is a way he seeks to be understood by others and also to understand himself.
- Lives near Mocksville, North Carolina.
- Attended N.C. School of the Arts and Indiana University.
- Learned oil painting from Heiner Hertling.
- Loves the Appalachian mountains and Outer Banks.
- His art reflects his faith, family, and love of nature.
Ralph Grady James’s desire is to communicate the beauty of God’s creation in his paintings, and he wants to show others what he sees and feels, asking questions of himself and the viewer while seeking peace and contentment through the process.
Ralph Grady James strives to keep his love for art in perspective, following Scott Christensen’s idea that painting contributes to the art of living, and Ralph believes painting falls somewhere behind his faith and his family in priority, though the balance is always difficult.
You can see more of Ralph Grady James’s paintings on his own artist website, right here.