We never thought we’d get excited about engineering, but a very cool #LUartist has won us over. Everyone, meet JAMES WINDLEY!

Mechanical engineer by day, @jameswindleyart transforms into a plein air and studio artist by night. He paints in his heated garage converted to a COVID office/ workout space/ art studio where he has engineered himself a magnificent setup complete with a rolling tool cart for his art supplies.

James got started painting in 2017 when, as a notoriously hard person to buy for, his wife got him paint supplies for Christmas. The following summer he took a workshop with #LUmaster Charlie Easton (whose LU mastermind group James is now an integral member of) and his plein air and studio work took off.

“When I was really young, I remember reading in one of my dad’s old photography books: ‘There’s this big trend to travel for photography. That’s the WORST THING you can do. Wherever you are, you can take good photographs.’ Then it showed a boring scene with all the interesting photographs you could find in it. I think about that a lot…”

With that wisdom in mind, he’s digging for local inspiration and has come across some stunning places in his hometown of Moose Jaw, SK. Check them out for yourself at @jameswindleyart! FOLLOW him for some great Canadian art and inspiration. 

And he gives that GREAT ADVICE to all of us:

“Whatever your expertise, whatever you have to work with, “there’s a lot to be learned wherever you happen to be.”