What I like about printmaking is the freedom to break rules, to experiment and explore. With my woodcut printmaking, instead of carving an image into a single, flat surface of wood, as is traditionally done, I often construct my images using multiple pieces of wood, fit together to create an arrangement of abstract shapes and patterns. These fragmented compositions, usually set against a black background are influenced by stained glass windows.
The grain of the wood is an integral part of my artwork. I usually don’t use smooth wood, but carefully select each piece of wood for its unique texture and character. I’m fascinated with the natural beauty of wood and see all the intricate lines and curves of the grain that twist and turn and dance around knots as works of art. The wood is not my canvas, it’s my drawing. The process is extremely tedious and time consuming. But that’s the cost of traveling down paths unpaved.
James Scannell is a multi-disciplined artist based in Philadelphia. He attended SUNY New Paltz from 1992-1995. Where he was first introduced to printmaking. Having a background in woodworking and carpentry, woodcut printmaking came naturally. After SUNY New Paltz, he decided to continued his education at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The strong printmaking program at the Academy further honed his skills at the craft.
Since graduating from PAFA in 1999, much of his career has been focused on sculpture. In 2017 he was able to acquire an etching press and soon shifted his focus back to printmaking. James has developed a unique approach to woodcut printing. The time spent creating sculptures has contributed to a distinct style of image making that has a constructed feel to it. Instead of carving an image into a single, flat piece of wood, as is traditionally done in woodcut printmaking, he creates designs using multiple pieces of wood, fit together to create compositions of shapes and patterns, often printed on a black background.
1992 - 1995
Suny New Paltz: Sculpture Major
1995 - 1999
Graduated from The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2019 - 2025
Monkey Boys Productions, creating puppets
2009 - 2014
West Art, Sculpting figurines and custom awards
2004 - 2007
The Wayne Art Center, teaching figurative sculpture
1999 - 2006
Perkins Center for the Arts, teaching sculpture and painting
1999 - 2000
The Franklin Mint, sculpting figurines
1999
J. Henry Shiedt Travel Award
Given by The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for exceptional Senior exhibit
The Perez and Mary Epstein Award for figurative sculpture
1998
The Walter and Michael Lantz Award for 1st place in the National Sculpture Competition
1997
The Walker Hancock Award given by the National Sculpture Society
1996
The Rhamborger Award for drawing
2016
Portrait of Vivienne, Oil on Linen
Painting of a little girl
2012
Portrait of the Darling Family, Oil on Linen
Painting of Husband, Wife and three Sons
2001
Portrait of two daughters, Oil on Canvas
Commissioned by Thompson Family
2008
Little Toni, Oil on Canvas
Portrait painting of a female dancer
2000
Portrait of Mother and Daughter, Oil on Canvas
Commissioned by Bette Gaspari
Portrait of Rick Knight, Oil on Canvas
Commissioned by Rick Knight
2026
The Contemporary Print, Print Austin, Austin, TX, Woodcut Print on paper
2025
Legacy Art Auction, Westchester, PA, Woodcut Print on paper
2024
Painting Freedom Art Auction, Westchester, PA, Woodcut Print on paper
2022
Legacy Art Auction, Westchester, PA, Woodcut Print on paper
2021
Home Sick, pandemic themed group show, Poughkeepsie, NY, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Painting Freedom Art Auction, Westchester, PA, Woodcut Print on paper
2019 - 2020
Fire and Ice, group show, King of Prussia, PA, Woodcut Print on Paper
2019
The Saunders Farm Project 2019, 164 acre working cattle farm, Garrison, NY, Two-month-long group outdoor sculpture exhibit
The Art of Performance, group show, Wayne, PA, Woodcut Print on Paper
2018
ORGANICS, NoBA Artspaces, group show, Bala Cynwd, PA, Woodcut Prints on Paper
2009
Group Show, Little Berlin Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 3D Installation
2007
Group Show, The Davenport Gallery, Radnor Township, PA, Sculpture
Portraiture: A Philadelphia Tradition, group show, The Ethel Sergent Clark Smith Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, Sculpture
2006
Group Show, The Moore Gallery, Moorestown, NJ, Sculpture
Group Show, Ethel Sergent Clark Smith Gallery, Wayne, PA, Sculpture
2005
Group Show, Ethel Sergent Clark Smith Gallery, Wayne, PA, Sculpture
2023
"Forever Reveille"
Over life sized bronze sculpture of Texas A&M mascot,“Reveille” on a large sculpted base. Placed in front of the new Kyle Field football stadium at Texas A&M. A team effort with sculptor Dawn Agnew-Mundell.
2018
“Imagine”
Life sized bronze sculpture of a little girl, Sylvie
Commissioned by Anne Congdon
2015
“I Am A Flower”
Life sized bronze of a young girl Eliza
Commissioned by Anne Congdon
2010
"Ce Ce"
Life size bronze statue of a young girl
Commissioned by Anne Congdon
"Isabelle"
Life sized bronze statue of a young girl
Commissioned by Anne Congdon
"Lauren"
Life sized bronze statue of a young girl
Commissioned by Anne Congdon
"Polly"
Life sized Bronze sculpture of a dog
2005
Bronze Bust of Bob Crofford
Commissioned by Radnor Township
2003
“The Hangout”
Life sized bronze sculpture of three boys playing in a tree
Commissioned by Anne Congdon
2000
Bronze Statue of Thornton D. Hooper, Member of the very first group of US WWI pilots
Commissioned by the Hooper family
Bronze Bust of Bernard Fineman, WWII Pilot
Commissioned by Bernard Fineman
