Before I start a painting I try to work out how I can pack as much emotion into the artwork as possible. I paint in a hyperrealism style as I feel that this is the best vehicle of getting pure emotion into my work. Every painting takes me such a long time to do that I feel that I have time to put so much emotion into it and every skin pore and hair tells a story.
The emotion of joy, happiness and relief dominate this work. I met Mim on a very small island called Polar Char in Bangladesh in 2022. As an Artist I travel to some very difficult places and see a huge amount of suffering but this was different. The organisation that I was with had worked with the community to build a raised village on this tiny island and so now when the floods come the people do not have to evacuate and find a home elsewhere. This relief and joy was evident in abundance when I met Mim. Mim was happy that she now had a permanent school and a permanent home. She danced and played without any care in the world.
When I was back in the UK and I looked at a blank canvas I asked myself how I would paint this joy. I decided that I would extend the joyful pattern of her dress on to the background, as she spread joy and happiness to everyone she met, she had a rainbow of happiness and colour surrounding her. I hope that when people view this portrait they can see pure and undiluted joy.
If you would like to commission a portrait please contact James by email james@jamesearleyartist.com or by mobile 0044 7551616352
