Naturally Cincy: work in progress exhibit catalog

NAT U R E A RT BY JA M E S BI L L IT E R • PA R K+V I N E • A PR I L 26 -M AY 25, 2014

Naturally Cincy AN ARTIST’S STATEMENT BY JA MES BILLITER

I am a lifelong Cincinnatian who was reared on family camping trips into the Great Outdoors. I cherished these trips into Nature where life was simpler and more elemental. But as a city slicker there is a divide between my everyday life and the mystery of the Natural world.

Over the past several years I find myself often spending time outside and have reconnected with Nature.

Through hiking, cycling, running and rowing I observe plants and animals. With child-like wonder I take in these new experiences compelled to unravel these mysteries — I find myself inspired.

Along my bike commutes I see the sun rise over our majestic Ohio River valley and glow golden as it sets in the west. The light sparkes and dances along our hillsides.

I can’t capture these moments with a camera so I replicate their beauty in my landscapes.

As a boy I was captivated by the work of Charley Harper, I found his style based upon elementary forms delightful and inventive. As I have gotten older the work of Harper, along with John Ruthven and John James Audubon have inspired me as a designer and illustrator and this new collection of animal artwork that I have observed in nature.

Between our City Parks, the nature preserves and our great river ecosystems we are blessed with an abundance of Nature around us. I want my work to inspire all of us to appreciate these Natural resources and for us to celebrate conservation on this 45th anniversary of Earth Day.

Rivers for Life: an illustration for The Nature Conservancy

THANK YOU TO THESE PEOPLE FOR MAKING MY EXHIBIT POSSIBLE:

My wife Bridget & dog Kona

Aaron Kent DIY Printing

Dan Korman Park+Vine

My family & friends

Rick Conner & my LPK family

Plaza Art & Rock Paper Scissors

John Muir Quote 2014 8” x 10” Four color silkscreen

B-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-d-s 2014 10” x 8” Digital Print

View from Eden Park

Winter Hawks 2014 16” x 10” Two color silkscreen

2011 16” x 8” Four Color Laserjet $15 print $35 framed

I love to stop by this overlook during my commutes and enjoy the changing of the seasons.

Sunrise over the Ohio River Valley: Scene from Eden Park 2011 17in x 9in 4-color laserjet

Got the Blues 2013 Digital print on melamine

Autumn Leaves 2014 5” x 5” Ink on canvas

Downy Drilling 2014 14” x 11” Digital Print

Winter Feast 2013 10” x 8.5” Digital Print

Sunrise Moonset 2013 12” x 12” Three color split-fountain silkscreen

Ice Falls 2014 11” x 14” Two color silkscreen

Hazy Ohio River Day 2014 16” x 10” Two color silkscreen

Is There a Deer Here?

2014 14” x 11” Digital Print

Traffic Jam 2014 10” x 30” Digital print on canvas

Cincinnati Sunset 2014 25” x 12.875” Four color silkscreen

Forest Trees Sunset 2014 10” x 10” One color split-fountain silkscreen

Night Owl 2013 10” x 10” Digital Print

Apendix

My approach and process

BY JAMES BILLITER

13 10” x 8.5” Digital Print

Funnily enough, I painted this almost twenty years ago.