Governor's Gallery

James W. Bruce, Jr.
A Painter’s Journey - Learning How To Paint What You See

October 16 thru December 8, 2006

James W. Bruce, Jr. has captured the beauty of the world around him in his exhibit, A Painter’s Journey – Learning How to Paint What You See.

Bruce, an Oklahoma native, signed his first painting in 1952. His voyage to learn to paint what he saw began in the summer of 1954 when Bruce studied with the late Richard Vernon Goetz. Years later after college and enlistment in the Navy, Bruce again studied with Goetz learning the technical aspects of painting and the beauty of harmony within a composition.

Bruce’s journey has not only been a quest to paint the magnificent world around him but also a quest to achieve poetry in his art. “Hopefully the atmosphere of the landscape or the ideas of the still life are captured and takes the observer into his or her own world of contemplation and joy, thereby creating beautiful poetry and harmony.”

The artist explores tonalist techniques which is a style utilized primarily in landscapes that emerged in the 1880s.Bruce says that his inspiration for employing these techniques were the reserved use of color. “It’s the mystery of the subject and the combination of close detail and ill-defined passages which create wonderful illusions. All of these concepts combine to make a tonal painting so evocative and poetic – paintings which let the viewer ‘fill in’ the story being told by the artist.”

The composition of a tonalist painting exudes an overall colored atmosphere usually of dark neutral hues. Tonalism was derived from the French Barbizon style, which emphasized mood and shadow.

Several of Bruce’s works were produced en plein air, a French term meaning open air.
Impressionist painters such as Camille Pissarro and Edouard Manet were some of the first painters to employ the plein air techniques in which the artist would paint outdoors, capturing every flicker of fleeting light.

The Plein Air Painters of America selected Bruce as the guest artist for the 1998 Santa Catalina Island Exhibition. Bruce is also a Signature Member of the national organization, Oil Painters of America. More of Bruce's work can be seen at the Howell Gallery in Oklahoma City.

Sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council. For more information contact Scott Cowan or Karen Sharp at 405.521.2931 or scott@arts.ok.gov

The Governor's Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the State Capitol outside the Blue Room and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30-5:00.

Past Governor's Gallery Exhibits