James Little USA, b. 1952
The methodical nature with which he approaches the making of his own mediums is also evident in the laborious technique he uses to actually paint his paintings. His compositions take months, sometimes half a year to materialize. He lives with each layer for weeks at a time while it dries, formulating a deep understanding of the evolving relationships between the colors and shapes and patterns.
The encaustic paints Little manufactures in his studio have the capacity to last for centuries if properly cared for. The seemingly perfect flatness of the wax surface belies the multitude of layers Little builds up over the course of months while working on his paintings.
“I’m not cutting edge,” he says. “I’m just trying to stand up next to the great paintings of the past. It’s like building a building. The things that are going to make it stand are the same as they’ve always been. You have to have a solid foundation. I approach painting the same way.”