Welcome to the Sabby Painter Podcast, the Podcast for Artists Who Mean Business.

Here's your host, Antrice Wood.

Hello, it's Antrice, and welcome to another episode of the Savvy Painter Podcast.

James Bland is my guest today.

James is an English figurative artist who lives and works in Kent.

He has been featured in artist and illustrators magazine in his work in the Ruth Bouchard's collection of self-portraits.

His paintings incorporate diverse approaches to style and subject,

but always began with drawing and painting from life. James uses paintings as a way of telling

stories and finds inspiration in literature as well as visual art.

His work can be seen at the lime tree gallery in Bristol, the Lylford Gallery in Canterbury, the Fine Art Consultancy in London, and on his website

at James Bland paintings.com.

In this episode, James and I talk about his first sort of epic painting, how he uses Facebook to connect with other artists.

He also shares an exercise he created for his workshop students to help them feel more comfortable

using memory as a source for painting. And later we explore how perceptions

influence your work. We get into commissions, how James chooses models for his paintings, and how he sets up his studio.

We even explore what one could argue is the addictive quality of making art.

So there's lots of great stuff today. is the addictive quality of making art.

So there's lots of great stuff today.

Welcome, James.

Thank you so much for being here.

Hi, Chase.

I know this may take you way back,

...