Jim DeLucia

Apr 21, 2009

Topic: Arts | Tags: , ,

jim_delucia

Jim DeLucia is a Rochester based mixed media artist with a focus on urban scrawl, unlikely hues and the objects we see with every passing mile. His work isn’t typical for lowbrow or watercolor work, but it has the mechanics of each; color washing, handwritten letters and a mash up of illustration and freeform. “I usually paint large oil paintings on canvas but decided to work smaller on paper. It helped me to work out problems I was having with the larger paintings but now they have become actual pieces,” stated Jim. “On paper I have been using water color, acrylic, oil paints, pencil and collage. I enjoy mixing it up and for me it allows more layering to show a history. Or it just gets junked up and I paint over it and keep the parts I like. That is probably my favorite part of the process.”

He uses what he’s inspired by, telephone poles, residential architecture, pigeons, to relay a story about a small city hidden in upstate New York, to portray a simple life led by creativity and abundant with color. Jim does all this using the least amount of objects possible. “I really am inspired by urban landscapes – older structures that have been graffitied and painted over a dozen times. Homes with peeling paint or different shades of the same color because the owner couldn’t quite match the paint for touch ups. I always take pictures on my camera phone when I am out and create work from those images. I keep an eye out for new graffiti and also when it gets painted over, that is where some of my color choices come from. On my way to the studio, I pass by a CSX train yard where there are always multi colored train cars to create a palette from. And then there are the pigeons, they’re everywhere! I also look at a ton of artists for inspiration.”

jim_delucia2
picture from How Now Design

What makes Jim a unique art seller, is that his prints are priced low enough for anyone to afford to hang real art in their home. Rachel from Pistachio Press stated that she uses a Jim DeLucia painting in a grouping made up of regional artists for her home – a great way to network with other creatives in the area. His work is subtle enough to use in combinations with other illustrations, but unique enough to stand out among them. His Etsy store name, Carving My Initials was born from two separate experiences – a romantic day with the wife and a studio day with Jay-Z. “I was listening to Jay-Z in the studio and in his song Beach Chair he has the lyrics ‘No I never been on myspace, Too busy letting my voice vibrate, Carving out my space’. I like the word play and how he said he was carving out my space, but I did not want to use exactly that. The second instance was a couple of friends, my wife and I went to the Italian Riviera last summer and hiked the Cinque Terre. There was this tunnel of love type walk way into a mountain where people come and confess their love for their significant other. So we carved our initials into the wall. My friends posted a pic on flickr with the caption “carving our initials” and I immediately thought of the lyrics which led me to Carving My Initials. It began as my blog title, I thought it fit well and then became my Etsy shop name.”

Buy a Jim DeLucia print on Etsy.
His blog, also named Carving My Initials, catalogs his series and work in the studio with intervals of found graffiti, and his dog Gino.

Other Posts

«Previous Miss Valentine | Drum n’ Bass Under The Big Top Next»

2 Shouts to “Jim DeLucia”

  1. Rachael says Apr 23 at 10:09 pm

    Jim is a truly an amazing artist, great article!

  2. Sara Dankert says Apr 25 at 11:20 pm

    Nice piece – really captures Jim’s modesty and sharp talent.

Go Ahead, Speak Up!