Artist in conversation: james hurley
“Art, for me, is a cyclical process of deconstruction and rebirth”
James Hurley is an artist who embodies boldness and authenticity. His art reflects his direct approach to life, unfiltered by the influence of others. He is an individual who has mastered the art of being his true self, navigating his own path with resilience and learning from every stumble and misstep.
James's journey as an artist is a testament to his transformative mindset. He turned his doubts - the whispers of "it's impossible" - into a powerful affirmation of "I'm possible". This shift occurred when he recognized his own potential, seeing himself as an underutilized and undervalued asset.
As an artist, a creator, and a creative entrepreneur, James channels love, joy, passion, and even challenging emotions into his work. He bridges the gap between fantasy and reality, creating photo-art that nurtures the creative mind and sparks happiness at a subconscious level.
His love for himself is palpable in his work. He pours his compassion and raw emotions into his photography and photo-art, sharing his love with those who encounter his creations. Whether you meet him in person, interact with him online, or invest in his artwork or magazine, James strives to leave a lasting impression.
In essence, if you're seeking artwork that resonates with your emotions or fuels your thoughts, James Hurley's creations are a perfect match. But remember, as per James, emotions should be observed and recognized for what they are. They should inform your understanding but not dictate your choices and decisions.
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?
My journey into art was sparked by a desire visualise the emotions and frustrations that I couldn’t describe to others in words. I developed my unique style through a relentless process of experimentation, blending photography with digital brushwork and textures to create thought provoking digital art that resonates with the viewer on an intuitive level.
In terms of subject matter, what themes or motifs do you frequently explore in your work, and what draws you to these topics?
The recurring themes in my work are personal growth, emotional authenticity, and the beauty of raw, unfiltered self-expression based on personal experience. I'm drawn to these topics as they reflect my personal journey and as a result my artwork acts as a mirror for others and a reminder that they are truly unique and their personal journey through life is as important as anyone else’s. The goal is for someone to hang my art on their wall because they found a piece of themselves within the story embedded in the artwork.
How do you navigate the balance between self-destruction and re-creation as a way towards conscious Happiness?
Art, for me, is a cyclical process of deconstruction and rebirth. It's about dismantling old narratives that crowd my cluttered mind to create space for new stories. I often struggle with clearing negative loops of thought which are generated by emotions and feelings triggered by things I personally experience or witness. To help remove repeating thoughts they are pulled kicking and screaming out of my mind and brought to life in my artwork and thus destroying the negative loops and turning potentially damaging thoughts and emotions into a visual mirror to remind me that I control my journey. This also means I’m not incorrectly taking diversions from my chosen path due to misleading or conflicting thoughts. This cycle of extracting and visualising thoughts and emotions is the way I ensure I’m focusing on gratitude and happiness, and recognizing that joy often comes from transformation and self-discovery.
Can you discuss a specific piece or project that challenged you as an artist, and how you overcome those challenges?
Creating art based on negative loops or damaging emotions tends to be very challenging. Translating the complexity of human thought into a recognisable visual format can be very challenging. Overcoming this means I need to focus on the core reason for the emotion or feeling and then find a connection with an interconnected group of everyday objects that although mismatched, when looked at separately, tell the story when blended together. To do this means letting go of preconceived notions and allowing the art to evolve organically, guided by the emotions it sought to depict.
How do you stay connected with other artists and keep up with new developments and trends in the art world?
Currently I do not have a circle of artist friends that I’m in regular contact with in person, but hopefully that will change as I build my authenticity and authority over the coming months as I, a keen listener and always willing to help others. In the meantime, I stay connected through social media, virtual galleries, and to some small extent collaborative projects.
I’m not a fan of jumping on and following trends (although to some extent Social media does take you down this rabbit hole), and do think its less about following them and more about understanding the evolving language of art, which helps me to keep my work relevant and resonant.
How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?
I see feedback as a dialogue between my vision and the viewer's perspective. While I value input, I weigh it against my artistic intuition, ensuring that the core message of my work remains intact. After all, not everyone will like what I do and how I make art, and that’s fine because everyone is different after all.
How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?
I embrace creative blocks as a signal to step back and recharge, often finding inspiration in other forms of creative expression, such as acrylic pours, embellishing my work with encaustic wax and further exploring my passion for creative portrait photography, or simply going for a walk. The key is to trust the creative process and know that inspiration will return.
How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?
As an emerging digital artist exhibiting with the Holy Art Gallery is an exhilarating prospect. It's an opportunity to share my art's narrative with a wider audience and to connect with viewers on a level that's both personal and universal. Hopefully this will be the first exhibition of many at such a prestige gallery.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Initially my focus is building my art practice and finding an audience that loves my artwork. My long-term goals are to explore the use of Augmented Reality and further develop the magazine I’ve been publishing for the last 6 years to include educational elements, then to open a high street location where I can show my own work, plus help other emerging artists develop and achieve authenticity and to run art and photography workshops for people that want to step into the world of digital art and self-expression.
Its important for me to stay true to my narrative, and to do that I am constantly learning, and embracing the ever-changing landscape of digital art. To enable me to achieve these goals I must first establish myself as an authentic and successful artist, this is why I have jumped in with both feet and become a fulltime artist. If you are reading this and my artwork and story resonate with I invite you to join me on my journey of self discovery.