James Dean

Mr. Dean's early memories are of his father's work as a self - taught painter. "My father discovered his talent when he was in his early thirties. I can remember him making copies of paintings by the masters, and so I always just felt that I also had artistic ability." The last quarter before graduating as an electrical engineer James Dean took a basic drawing class. "My instructor told me I should be studying art, not engineering. My grades in engineering sort of agreed with his opinion. However, I had always been told that it would be almost impossible for me to make a living as an artist, so I was afraid to try art as a career." James then accepted a position working as an engineer for Georgia Power Company. While still working as an engineer, he began to create paintings of local scenes and found that people were actually willing to buy these pieces. Eventually, he decided to work as an artist on a full time basis. He says now, "I believe that my art is my best natural talent. I need to do art. I really don't have a choice." Artist's comments about his work.I am a lines person. I see and think in terms of lines. Color comes after the lines. The lines are very strong in my work; the color is almost meaningless without the lines. This is the basis for my style of watercolor. Most of the time there is white space in my work. This is not your tax return. Everything does not have to be filled in. I generally draw things that are real. I draw places and things that I know about and that have connections with me. I hope that other people will also see and feel this same connection.