November Berry Leaves (Arc) · colored pencil on paper ·12" x 17"

“In spite of what has happened to what we call nature, especially in the recent past, I continue to seek out some parts of paradise.” -James Karsina

James Karsina states that his goal is simply “to cooperate with what I see, know and feel.”  Working within a delicate balance of spontaneity and labored calculation, James creates works that appear effortless. He brings plants into his studio from surrounding woods and gardens to render them patiently and carefully. "The more you look, the more you see. The more you see, the more you know. These simple statements mask formidable difficulties," he explains.

James' paintings, in contrast with his realistic drawings, invite the viewer to experience an interpretation of the landscape rather than a realistic record. He uses vibrant, sometimes pungent colors, creating exciting divisions of space as lyrical lines fill the scenes with movement and activity. 

With a master’s degree in Fine Arts in both painting and drawing from the University of Iowa, James Karsina has been creating artwork for more than fifty years and has taught for a quarter century at the college level.  His work is included in over fifty high profile collections including museums, universities, corporations, and foundations, as well as over four hundred private collections throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Click to view more of James Karsina's artwork
along with other LaFontsee Galleries artists Detail of Open Autumn (For Phyl) · Acrylic on Canvas · 60 x 66