showcase your art to thousands
of visitors every day

My landscape painting is primarily inspired by hours I have spent hiking the trails of Santa Cruz County, and some more remote regions of Northern California. This includes such places as Wilbur Hot Springs in Colusa County and the John Muir Trail in the high Sierras. My brush strokes capture moments of reverie along the San Lorenzo River banks and up on fire trails by Castle Rock State Park. Working intuitively with acrylics I attempt to bring to the canvas some of the strong emotions I experienced in my outdoor meditations.

Sometimes I make little sketches or take slides of the scenes and shapes that appeal to me, most reliably though; I like to work from fuzzy memories. Drawing from these imprecise recollections allows the moodiness a chance to percolate into the painting in a spontaneous way that enthralls me. I also paint plein air, where I allow the effects of the sun, wind, and morning chill to work their way directly onto the canvas.

Artist’s Biography

My formal study of art began with drawing classes I took while working as a professor at San Jose City College in the 1980’s. I later immersed myself in painting while on sabbaticals from my teaching job. On my most recent sabbatical in 2004 I studied the relationship between meditation and the creative process. This is a topic I address in my psychology classes and workshops.

My early painting was primarily abstract in nature. In the past two years I moved to more landscape inspired work drawing on my love of the woods. I now have begun to paint plein air, and am exploring the emotional and sensual elements of painting in the out of doors.

Besides my City College teaching, I am also a meditation teacher and presents mindfulness meditation stress reduction workshops in workplaces and community settings throughout Northern California. My wife Maria and I together offer workshops for the general public that combine self-exploration, guided meditation, and art making.


See an on-line exhibit of my work at my website: JimPotterton.com

Your comments are very welcome. Send tem to me at jpotterton@sbcglobal.net

high trail reverie

2006
acrylic on canvas
61x46

Wilder Winter Tide

2007
acrylic
40.5 x 51

Tidal Rush

2007
acrylic on canvas
23 x 30.5

The Five Fifty-Three on Track 7

2007
acrylic on canvas
40.5 x 51

By the Bay

2007
acrylic on canvas
56 x 71

Incoming Tide 3

2007
acrylic on canvas
22.5 x 30.5

Tidal Nocturne

2007
acrylic on canvas
23 x 30.5

The Gotham Line

2007
acrylic on canvas
25.5 x 20.5

Dawn Tide

2007
acrylic on canvas
23 x 30.5

West Cliff Nocturne

2007
acrylic on canvas
23 x 30.5

Clear Board

2008
acrylic on canvas
91 x 91

creeks rising

2008
acrylic
46 x 46

Red Sky at Bay

2008
acrylic on canvas
30.5 x 23

trio

1988
acrylic
30.5 x 23

Time In

1988
acrylic
61 x 46

Ice Pond

2008
acrylic on canvas
58 x 99

Storm

2008
acrylic
51 x 41.5

Roanoke Evening

2008
digital photograph
30.5 x 23

Wilder Winter Rains

2007
acrylic
46 x 61

18th and San Pablo

2009
acrylic
30.25 x 33