Artists: James Poulson

James Poulson is a self-taught artist who began painting as a child. Growing up in Montana, Poulson gained an early appreciation for the state's diverse beauty. At age ten, he began painting watercolors with his grandmother on her Minnesota farm, and later, when he was twelve, his father became friends with plein-air painter Leroy Greene, who exposed Poulson to landscapes. In 1978, Poulson decided to pursue his art career on a full-time basis. Around this time, he met western artist Clyde Aspevig, who would later significantly influence his work. "I paint because it is the strongest emotion that I know. I see a landscape and my first thought is that I've got to paint that", Poulson says.