Chelsea Bentley James

Animal crackers, Morton salt, a loaf of bread, and a club sandwich--these are a few of the stars of Utah artist Chelsea Bentley James' still-life tableaux. The young artist, who hopes to finish her last hours at the University of Utah this summer for a bachelor's degree in fine art, paints objects that speak to her in a personal way. "I feel like shuga is a reflection of me," says James, referring to her depiction of a bag a sugar. "my favorite thing in the world is my desserts. I took a break from painting to eat lunch and was fascinated with the lush pinks and blues on the sugar bag."

James is always aware of the light, colors, and objects around her. When a particular scene catches her eye, the artist quickly grabs her sketch pad to brainstorm for future paintings. Once she sets up an arrangement that suits her vision, James layers the canvas with coats of under-painting in a monochromatic value study. "From there, I match my color and begin to apply paint with a variety of tools, brushes and viscosity," she says.
Since returning in December from a several-month vacation in Europe with her new husband, James has been painting a series of foreign pastries as well as a few cafe scenes and landscapes. She is represented by Magpies' Nest in Salt Lake City, UT, and Coda Gallery, Palm Desert, CA -Julie Osterman