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" Lawrence Pretended Not to Notice
That a Bear
Had Become Attached to his Coattail"
by James C. Christensen |
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“This is one of those paintings that most people can
relate to,” says James C. Christensen, “although
often for a different reason than you may expect. I
think everyone occasionally ignores problems in the
hope that they will fade away, but that’s not the
only interpretation for the image. When wildlife
painter Bonnie Marris saw this painting she cried,
‘That poor bear! This is the third guy he’s gotten
attached to this week and this isn’t even his
neighborhood! Did you ever think about that?’
“Personal experience has a major influence on
people’s interpretation of the painting’s
message. When I gave a talk to third graders about
trusting their ideas, I asked them what they thought
Lawrence …
was about. One little girl said, ‘You shouldn’t take
pets home without asking your mom.’”
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" The Rich Young
Ruler " |
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Just before his triumphal entrance into
Jerusalem, Jesus passed through a town where a righteous young man asked
him what he could do to inherit eternal life. The young man told Jesus
how he followed the Commandments and obeyed the laws of his people, but
Jesus asked something more: “Go, sell everything you have and give to
the poor,” he said, “and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come,
follow me.” The home of The Rich Young Ruler is filled with symbols of
both his success and his dilemma. The laden camels in the frieze in the
foreground illustrate Jesus’ next words to his disciples, “It is easier
for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of God. ”The ruler himself is richly dressed in fine
fabrics and jewels and the room is filled with lush plants, which in a
desert setting would be quite costly to maintain. Sputtering beside the
entrance to the door is the ruler’s lamp that, like the flame of his
belief, wavers in the wind. These symbols, combined with Christensen’s
unique style, make The Rich Young Ruler an elegant story of difficult
decisions and of a Master who will always look back and offer another
chance. |
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" Virtue " |
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"To walk safely through
the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance
of virtue."
-Buddha
The graceful young woman
depicted may walk a dark path, but with determination and focus as her
guiding principles she will surely find her way. Incorporating one of
James C. Christensen’s most popular recurring themes, Virtue serves as a
classic and elegant reminder to stay true to your beliefs, that faith
and strength will see you through the dark times.
“The candle is a symbol of light in the spirit,” says Christensen. “The
candle is about being an example to others, but it’s also about keeping
that light shining for yourself. Be true to yourself and to the things
you know are important and don’t let the world taint you.”
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“The
Burden of the Responsible Man” |
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“Did you ever feel the weight of the world on your
shoulders? When I painted The Burden of the Responsible Man I felt overwhelmed
by how much everybody expected from me. I felt as if life was taking everything
I had and not giving much back, just dangling a carrot to keep me going. Even
this man’s pet, a hedgehog, needs to be fed and taken for walks, but is too
prickly to offer warm ‘cuddlies’ in return. But the man’s a responsible person
and so he just keeps plodding along. That’s the point. I just kept plodding
along, too, and things got better. I discovered that my burdens were really
blessings and challenges necessary for my growth.”
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“Fiona” |
Clothed in garb of cobwebs and moonlight, Fiona
catches your gaze. Like all of the sídhe (faeries) she is breathtakingly
beautiful, but Fiona is more than meets the eye. Celtic legends tell of men
and women who followed the unearthly music of the faeries deep into the
woods and were never seen again. Other folk tell a friendlier tale of the
leanan sídhe, the faerie muses who protect artists and poets in exchange for
their immortal love.
James Christensen’s Fiona shines in her natural adornments. If you look
closely, you’ll see the half-hidden subjects of her kingdom: flowers,
animals and insects, hidden amid her garments. If you look closer still, you
just might find exactly what you seek, but beware—the promises of faeries
are fleeting and nothing is ever quite what it seems. |
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“Music of
Heaven” |
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" The earth has music for those who listen."
-William Shakespeare
In the midst of our hectic lives, it is easy
to forsake what is important in favor of what needs to be done. We
relinquish our quiet time, our communion with ourselves and a greater
universe, for the daily realities that (it seems) cannot wait. Once in a
while, however, if we would just be still and listen, we would hear
something wondrous. The earth—indeed, heaven itself—has music for those who
will listen. |
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" Royal Music Barque " |
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" Visitation /
Preoccupation " |
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How often do we find ourselves too
preoccupied within our own little worlds to realize when something
truly momentous is happening outside of them? Are we paying enough
attention to those around us to really hear what they are saying?
In this extreme example, a very self-important
individual, in all his pomp and finery, fails to realize the heavenly nature of
his visitor because he’s just not listening. In Latin, the angel says, “I am
dead.” The man’s response to his rather uncommon occurrence, “How do you like my
clothes?” underscores how little he is paying attention. The pear in the man’s
hand, one bite taken—bordering on the over-ripe, is a reminder that we may not
have all the time we think we do to amend these failures in communication.
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" Smell The Roses " |
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If Visitation/Preoccupation is the
warning, Smell the Roses is the answer. This fellow has managed to
layer on and pile up the responsibilities he carries about his life.
Indeed, he’s probably proud of being fairly buttoned-up, and
perhaps, working just a little too hard. Yet, something has suddenly
clicked. He’s stashed away his clock where he can’t see it and
loosened most of his buttons. He’s managed to pass that magic
threshold and realize that we all need to slow down and smell the
roses every now and then. Where in this process are you? |
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Hold to the Rod, the
Iron Rod |
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The character in Hold to the Rod finds
himself so burdened with the mundane objects he has collected that, while he
hopefully eyes the rod, he cannot reach up to hold it for fear of losing
something else. The man has become little more than a vehicle for his
adornments. He demonstrates that what is truly important is keeping sight of
our true belief and faith, that they alone will guide us through. |
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The Blind Leading the
Blind |
Christensen sees his blind men as
archetypal figures, embodying the different ways people deal with difficult
situations. All four men are lost, but their expressions reveal their
attitudes: one man is unhappy, one is content with his lot, one man is
confused and one has tumbled into the pit entirely. The Blind Leading the
Blind is a whimsical reminder to remain humble—and to give others the
benefit of the doubt.
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Resistance Training |
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Although the relationship between the
quartet of tough-looking fish and the determined cyclist in "Resistance
Training" may at first be unclear, the title offers some explanation:
athletes often train against a resisting force to build their strength. In
this particular case, however, as the fish tug stubbornly in the other
direction, we must wonder—who is training whom? |
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The
Beggar Princess and the Magic Rose |
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A beautiful young woman in tattered finery
stands in a dark castle hall, holding a wilting rose as its petals shed
flakes of gold. The elements of the story seem familiar enough—a princess, a
flower, a ruined castle—but the story itself is nowhere to be found in our
childhood memories of fairy tales. The reason? There is no story … yet. The Beggar Princess and the Magic
Rose exemplifies what artist James Christensen feels is “… so great about
art: the viewer can contribute to the magic by making up their own story.”
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Angels
of My Village |
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'' While traveling in Umbria this past
summer, artist James Christensen was inspired by the architecture of the
region, the "piled and stacked buildings" of the hill towns. He filled his
sketchbooks with Italian landscapes and cityscapes such as the one found in
his newest piece, Angels of My
Village. The illuminated landscape and hand-layered gold leaf of the
painting call to mind the angels found in medieval manuscripts. '' |
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Papier en Metal |
image
size:
14 1/4" x 13 1/2" |
New
Lower Price!
$190.00 (cdn)
$165
.00 CDN
US click here |
More info or to order
by phone click here |
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Definition of Papier en Metal:
A unique process combining
layers of metallic foil. opaque white ink, process inks and touch colors
onto fine art paper to reproduce the radiant halo effects of gold, silver,
and bronze in the original art. |
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The Gift
of Charity
~Porcelain~ |
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And now abideth faith, hope, charity,
these three; but the greatest of these is charity. - I CORINTHIANS 13:13
James C. Christensen’s beautiful
Holiday Angel series celebrates gifts worthy of angels—love, peace, life,
hope, music—as Christensen inspires us to live life to its full potential.
The Gift of Charity is the greatest of gifts, granting us the ability to
help others before ourselves; a gift as important during holiday time as it
is throughout the year. |
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Open Edition Porcelain |
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$110
.00 CDN
US click here |
More info or to order
by phone click here |
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Round
John Virgin
~Porcelain~ |
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If the name of the new addition to James
C. Christensen’s beloved Nativity sounds familiar, it’s probably because the
Christmas carol Silent Night is humming in your head. It was during a
Christmas past that one of the Christensen children misheard one of the
song’s lyrics and asked “Who’s round John?” Not missing this creative
opportunity, James developed a new character for the crèche, the portly soul
aptly named Round John Virgin. And who is this jolly fellow? He’s the
innkeeper, doing his best to accommodate this young family and provide them
with all the comfort he can on this most celebrated of nights. |
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Open Edition Porcelain |
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$145
.00 CDN
US click here |
More info or to order
by phone click here |
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Men and
Angels |
Man, indeed, describes more than he
explains; while the angelic spirit sees and understands. Man judges nature
in relation to itself; the angelic spirit judges it in relation to heaven.
In short, to the spirits everything speaks.
—HONORÉ DE BALZAC
Artist James C. Christensen’s
portrayals of angels, including Cecelia, Sleeper Lost in Dreams and
throughout his Saints and Angels series, inspire us to reflect on the angels
among us. The high contrast in Men and Angels reminds the viewer that
sometimes our mortal world is dark compared to the world of angels. The
image also reveals how a visitor can bring a shining light, leading us out
of the darkness. |
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Limited
edition
Giclée
Canvas
hand signed by the artist |
image size:
16" x 13" |
Sold out at publisher
check availability |
More info or to order
by phone click here |
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Limited Edition Print |
image size:
13 1/2" x 11" |
Low inventory check for
availability |
More info or to order
by phone click here |
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The
Responsible Woman |
This painting is an homage to artist James
Christensen's wife, Carole. He began to contemplate all her roles in life
and the many weighty responsibilities she shouldered as a full-time wife and
mother of five young children. Women everywhere relate to the need to
confidently soar above life's troubles and challenges. In a given day she
may shuttle the children, prepare a gourmet feast, keep to hectic time
schedules and more, but she always keeps her head up and carries the light
of hope to those around her. A delightful gift to honor a wife, mother,
grandmother, sister or any heroic woman in your life.
Among the important women's roles portrayed in this painting are: Mother,
Pet caretaker, Chef, Housekeeper, Leader (Lighting the way with wisdom),
Scheduler. How many more can you find? |
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Anniversary edition
Giclée
Canvas
hand signed by the artist |
image size:
24" x 18" |
Low
Inventory !
Click
here for availability |
More info or to order
by phone click here |
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Benediction - Bronze |
"I have always used the floating fish to
symbolize the presence of life's magic," says Jim Christensen.
"Occasionally, I've wondered whether these little guys are bringing the
magic with them or are the result of it. Who is the recipient of the
benediction? Is the angel blessing the fish, or in another way, is the fish
blessing the angel … blessing her by its presence? The Latin on the ring,
Beatus est Pisciculus, translates as "Blessed is the Little Fish."
Regardless of which came first, the angel or the fish, it's important to
stop and take the time to be thankful for the magic in our lives."
Edition
will not exceed 100 s/n |
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Fine Art Limited Edition
Bronze Sculpture |
Approx height: 20" |
$6635
.00 CDN
US click here |
More info or to order
by phone click here |
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If Pigs
Could Fly |
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'' There are oodles of adages associated
with "when pig fly": events extremely unlikely to occur or just plain
nonsensical. In the world of artist James C. Christensen, a flying pig might
seem perfectly commonplace. But the hunchback holding a candle in If Pigs
Could Fly is oblivious to his winged counterpart. In Christensen's art, the
hunchback represents the imperfect "everyman" and the candle he carries
signifies his wisdom and faith (or the faith in his wisdom, as the case may
be). Our hero forges onward, walking ahead, not expecting the unexpected,
nor noticing what's happening just over his shoulder. If Pigs Could Fly
reminds us that anything and everything is possible, and not to eliminate
any possibility.'' |
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Fine Art
Giclée
Canvas
hand signed by the artist |
image size: 15" x 12" |
$395
.00 CDN
US click here
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More info or to order
by phone click here |
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The
Listener |
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The Listener is about having your own
sense of who you are. Centered, not only in the painting but as a person,
with all the "noise" going on around him, he hears only his own inner voice.
The colorful "noise" around him takes the form personal and artistic
history. Can you find lust, remorse, politicians, the military, Picasso...
and, of course, scary clowns? Every figure represents something and the
final image would be accompanied by a key. |
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Limited
edition
Giclée
Canvas
hand signed by the artist |
image size:
24" x 24" |
Sold out at publisher
check availability |
More info or to order
by phone click here |
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Limited Edition Print |
image size:
24" x 24" |
$235
.00 CDN
US click here
|
More info or to order
by phone click here |
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The Gift
For Mrs. Clause
Anniversary Giclee Canvas |
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“One of my favorite
traditions of Christmas is making a gift for my wife,” says Christensen.
“Whether it is a drawing of one of our children, a fantasy painting, or a
stained glass fish to hang in the kitchen window, I know that it will have
special meaning for her because I have taken the time to make it. The
anticipation of that moment of surprise is as much a part of the joy and
excitement as the expression on her face when she actually opens her
present. In The Gift for Mrs. Claus, I tried to capture the sense of
delightful conspiracy as Father Christmas puts aside a little extra time to
prepare a special surprise for his wife.” |
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Fine Art
Anniversary edition
Giclée
Canvas
hand signed by the artist |
image size:
17" x 17" |
$540
.00 CDN
US click here |
More info or to order
by phone click here |
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The Pink Ribbon
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When James C.
Christensen paints a portrait of a woman, the beauty of his subject never
ceases to lose the viewer in thought. . .
Inspirational and Confident . . . Sensitive
and Ambiguous . . .
The Pink Ribbon is Christensen's positive statement on
prevention and survival. |
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The Pink Ribbon by
James Christensen is available in an open edition fine art print on paper,
11" X 14" unsigned for only $40. There is also a signed, limited
edition Giclee on canvas for $315.
A portion of the proceeds will be
donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation.
"An Artful Way to find a cure" |
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Open Edition fine art
print on paper |
image size:
11" x 14" |
$40
.00 CDN
US click here |
More info or to order
by phone click here |
|
Limited
edition
Giclée
Canvas
hand signed by the artist |
image size:
9" x 12" |
$315
.00 CDN
US click here |
More info or to order
by | |
