composting series -

Processing loss and change is the work of the Composting Series. James taps into his subconscious to invite other energies into his/their painting process - familiar faces and energies will develop and suddenly appear in later stages of the painting.

Fifteen to twenty intention-less layers provides James Emmett with enough history to give form to the emotions he can not articulate and is not connected to. He/they knows the painting is done when the painting tells the story.

The subjects are transitory, but the thread throughout the Composting Series is James uses his mothers’ ashes - passed in October of 2023, the inception point of this series - in the initial layers of paint. Painting with his/their mother is immensely gratifying to him and he easily connects to the sweetness and fun they used to have with one another throughout the process.