While there are no art historians on our nona.media team (yet), we can all appreciate the value behind art inspired from the Impressionist movement of the 19th century … or the vibrant abstract characteristics from the 20th century. But what we appreciate the most is the value behind art that comes from deep within ourselves – in our souls. Let’s appreciate and learn about the artwork of James Berry Dumas’ soul.

Nonahood News: What drove you to become an artist?

James Berry Dumas: I have no doubt I was born with a creative bent. This is my gift from my creator. And I have drawn and painted since I was a child.

NHN: When did you realize creating art was your passion?

JBD: I remember the very first time I drew something and showed it to my parents. I felt so proud. I think it was at that moment I knew something about what I wanted to do. That is not to say I did not wrestle with my decisions based upon my abilities and inabilities. I was born and grew up in a rural area of Louisiana. There were no art classes. It was all about the basics. I didn’t know of all the possibilities out there.

NHN: How often do you find yourself creating art?

JBD: I am driven by my desire to create. There is hardly a day that goes by [where] I am not painting, planning a painting, or working on some aspect of the process. It’s what gives me pleasure and satisfaction when I’m not otherwise enjoying being with my friends and family here in Florida.

NHN: How long did it take to discover yourself as an artist?

JBD: I was visiting Prague several years ago when I stumbled upon The Galerie Jakubska. The featured artist was Alexandr Onishenko. It was a small, cozy upstairs-downstairs gallery. The paintings took me by surprise. I had never seen anything like them. The color combinations were rich and vibrant oils applied with a palette knife. He described his work as “New Impression.” I was awestruck. After I left there, I could not stop thinking about what I had seen. I couldn’t get his art off my mind. I must’ve known then that was how I wanted to learn to paint.

When I retired from my architectural practice three years ago and moved to be near one of my sons in the Lake Nona area of Orlando, I made it my mission to learn to paint … hopefully like Mr. Onishenko. After some research, I discovered the Crealdé School of Art in Winter Park. That is where I found the class I was looking for. At their Winter Garden location, a teacher, Noreen Cope, had a class she titled “Impressionism with an Edge” – oil painting with a palette knife. I had found what I was looking for. 

NHN: Which of your projects would you consider to be your favorite?

JBD: My favorite paintings have been those that came out of me with the smallest amount of effort. What I mean is, they were not a struggle. Some people may say or explain it as being in “The Zone.” It’s where things just flow nearly effortlessly.

Of my paintings, I would say that would be “Lake Nona Sunset,” “Birthday Cake,” “Summertime,” and any painting in my “Laundry Day” series, among others. Another favorite is a painting I did of a wave for my surfing son, Blake, who lives in Destin. I got great joy in knowing I was going to please him with this surprise. And as the saying goes, “It just don’t get much better than that.”

NHN: Which of your projects were the most time consuming/challenging?

JBD: Well, that’s an easy one. In class, we have three hours from start to finish to create a complete painting. Often, we may not even know the subject matter. It’s interesting how eight people can look at the same object or objects to paint and come up with eight totally different interpretations. It’s a challenge to get it right.

NHN: What are some of your dream projects?

JBD: I would love to create a series of large abstract paintings to hang in a commercial installation. I would also like to paint something worthy of hanging in a prominent building, such as a government building, museum, or gallery location. And maybe the most satisfying dream would be for someone I hold in high regard for their professional work and who they are as a human being to buy a painting from me. For me, that would be the crème de la crème.

NHN: What serves as your inspiration on a day-to-day basis?

JBD: That definitely comes from deep within me. I call it my soul’s work. It’s how I nourish myself. It’s a necessity. It brings me satisfaction.

NHN: What are your future goals and plans?

JBD: I, of course, hope to continue growing as an artist. It will be nice to be invited to hang in a gallery someday. Or to sell my work through the Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival. And I think it would be very satisfying and enriching to teach art. Especially to young people. I have taken a battery of tests twice in my life. Once at age 20 and again at age 55. The results were the same. According to the results, I am creative, social, and would make a great teacher. I cannot imagine a day in my future when I do not paint.

Photos Courtesy of James Berry Dumas