In The Beginning II, 2026, Woodcut Print on paper, 28” H X 20” W
Red Sun, 2024, Woodcut Print on paper, 25” H X 21” W
Ball of Fire, 2024, Woodcut Print on paper, 25” H X 21” W
Once Upon A Time, 2021, Woodcut Print on paper, 28” H X 20” W
What Really Happened, 2021, Woodcut Print on paper, 28” H X 20” W
Visions of Jupiter, 2020, Woodcut Print on paper, 28” H X 20” W
to The Wind, 2019, Woodcut Print on paper, 14” H X 12” W
The Rhythm Section, 2019, Woodcut Print on paper, 23” H X 19” W
The Ravages Of Time, 2018, Woodcut Print on paper
Stampede II, 2018, Woodcut Print on paper, 11 ½” H X 15 ½” W
To Be Human Is To Bleed, 2018, Woodcut Print on paper, 15 ½” H X 11 ½” W
Hoarfrost, 2018, Woodcut Print on paper, 15 ½” H X 11 ½” W
Firstborn, 2018, Woodcut Print on paper, 15 ½” H X 11 ½” W
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SNll Life By A Starving ArNst, 2019, Painting, Oil on Plywood, 18” H X 20” W
Fallen, 2006, Painting, Oil on Linen, 40” H X 40” W
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Member Portfolio

James J Scannell

Philadelphia, PA

Artist Statement

I draw great inspiration from stained glass windows and the patterns formed by fragments of varying shapes and colors. Two artists that I’m influenced by are Pavel Filinov, for the way he incorporated stained glass imagery into his compositions, and Jonathan Leaman, for the odd psychological themes in his paintings. I’m also influenced by surrealism and the exploration of the subconscious. Much of my work has a subtle, indirect, spiritual, social, or psychological edge.

My most satisfying works have been inventions. What I mean by that is, creating art that's new and unique. What I like about printmaking is the freedom to break rules, to experiment and explore. Drawing from my experience in woodworking, and being a sculptor, I've come up with a different approach to woodcut printing. It's a departure from traditional methods. Instead of carving an image into a single, flat surface of wood, as is traditionally done in woodcut printmaking, I construct my images using multiple pieces of wood, fit together to create compositions of abstract shapes and patterns, often printed on a black background. This is where the stained glass influence can be seen.

The grain of the wood is an integral part of my artwork. I’m fascinated with the natural beauty of wood and see the texture, and all the intricate 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.

Artist Biography

My journey as an artist took me through two different art schools with completely opposite philosophies. I first attended SUNY New Paltz where conceptual thinking was rewarded and realism was ridiculed. Despite it being a shock to my expectations, I gained a genuine appreciation for non-representational art and did very well there. While at SUNY New Paltz I fell in love with printmaking.

After SUNY New Paltz I wanted to hear the other side of the story, so I continued my education at The Pennsylvania Academy of the fine Arts where I was taught traditional, classic art. I thrived there as well and won many awards. So I became acquainted with both sides of the coin. Unlike many art students who choose one side or the other, I embrace them both and am finding ways for the two opposite influences to collaborate.

I've always been a multi-disciplined artist, but since graduating from PAFA in 1999, most of my career has been focused primarily on sculpture. I’ve had a number of significant sculpture commissions over the years and have worked at sculpture related jobs such as sculpting collectibles, sculpting custom trophies and even making puppets. But this approach has done little to build my personal art career. I wanted to pursue my own vision. In 2017 I was able to acquire an etching press and soon began printmaking again. But being productive in the studio while working a full time job has been very challenging. I’ve recently taken a few steps back from my job to spend more time on my art. I'm also putting sculpture aside for now and shifting my attention to 2D art. I’ve been focusing mostly on printmaking but also want to do more painting.

Art Education

1992 - 1995
Suny New Paltz: Sculpture Major

1995 - 1999
Graduated from The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Relevant Work Experience

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

Awards

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

Painting Commissions

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

Gallery Shows and Exhibits

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

Sculpture Commissions

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

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