JAMIE PERRY:  NEW WORK
FEB 4 - 16, 2022
Artist Reception: Fri, Feb 4, 2022, 4-7 pm

If you sense a bit of Edward Hopper in Jamie Perry’s figurative paintings or a bit of Maynard Dixon in one of his landscapes, you’ve identified two of his inspirations in terms of style. In terms of subject matter, the native Southern Californian finds daily motivation from “being observational,” he says. “It’s little things I notice while driving around that immediately conjure up a painting in my head.”

Jamie began his painting career in the commercial realm — creating product/branding illustrations for magazine ads. When he grew tired of working with art directors who requested multiple changes (occasionally asking him to revert to elements he had previously shown them), he transitioned to fine art. “I decided to paint what I like to paint, which was minimal landscapes with a Midwestern theme,” he says. Though he grew up in Claremont and now lives in Colorado, Midwest settings (e.g., a lone farmhouse on flat land) appeal to his minimalist aesthetic. At the same time, he attributes his love for symbols of the American dream and lifestyle to “growing up in Southern California where there’s so much opportunity.”

“I grew up riding bikes and motocross and watching Westerns where guys are falling off horses and buildings,” he recalls. “A couple of friends and I started jumping off roofs [onto pads they made]. Then we went to Hollywood and met some top stunt guys, including Hal Needham and Dar Robinson, who took us under their wing and taught us a lot about the business. “I started thinking, ‘As I get older, this is going to be harder on my bones. I’ve always had a love for art, so I am just going to do that full time.’” Notable collectors include actors Paul Rudd and Kevin Nealon, the Boeing family, DuPont, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.