James Bonner: Inspired by the Wyeth Legacy, Defined by His Own Vision

James Bonner is a contemporary American realist painter based in Kittery, Maine. Since first visiting the state in the 1990s, he has been captivated by its character, describing Maine as both beautiful and gritty. This duality continues to shape his work, where quiet scenes hold layered meaning and everyday details reveal unexpected depth.

Deeply influenced by Andrew and Jamie Wyeth, James taught himself egg tempera and drybrush watercolor before developing his own recognizable style. He admires Andrew Wyeth’s ability to distill an image down to its essence and often approaches his own paintings with similar restraint. “I heavily edit my landscapes,” he explains, “removing extraneous detail until I get to the very core of what I’m trying to say.”

Born in 1959 in Little Rock, Arkansas, James studied art at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock under Al Allen. While that training gave him a foundation, much of his artistic development has come from years of independent exploration. He describes trial and error as central to his growth and still considers experimentation essential to his practice.

A rock-climbing accident in 2003 forced him to step away from painting for nearly a decade. Retraining his motor skills required patience, but the experience ultimately deepened his commitment to art. “Unhappy without the ability to express emotion through painting, I was determined to come back,” James recalls.

Today, his paintings are held in corporate and private collections across the United States, from Arkansas and New England to New York, Washington, D.C., and Florida. Maine, however, remains his most enduring source of inspiration. Of Monhegan Island, he reflects, “Everything slows down and you’re surrounded by possible paintings everywhere—it’s like stepping back in time.”

Learn more about James Bonner on Radio Maine.