Detail:
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About the Artist
James Zar was born in San Pedro, California in 1941 and came from a
family of hard-working fishermen. The vitality of strong working men
set against the background of the eternal sea’s enchantment was the
influential environment where he learned about life.
Zar attended Valley Junior College, the Pasadena Playhouse and the San
Francisco Art Institute where his interest in art was encouraged and
expanded by his mentor, the late master painter, Keith Finch. Joe
Hales and Raymond Escar were influential instructors. He holds a
lifetime adult teaching credential in California. As with other
artists, an education in art is never complete and he is continually
studying, exploring and growing in process, concepts and subject.
“Great Painting, like all great performances in the arts, is always
performed in a state of heightened awareness; the personal disappears,
the universal identity leaps into being! My own philosophy of painting
is the constant inner demand for more color! More dark and light
contrast! More life! A new greater beauty!
Zar’s tribute to Al Davis hangs in Canton, Ohio’s Football Hall of
Fame. He has participated in many shows including the Port of L.A.
Bicentennial Art Show where he won First Place and People’s Choice
Awards and he was awarded the San Dimas Art Festival’s Gold Medal.
Other shows include the American Heritage Show in San Diego, the Boy’s
Club Golden Alumni Show (winner) and many one-man gallery shows, as
well as the Taos Visitor’s Center Show and the Taos Fall Arts
Festival.
Publications showing Mr. Zar’s work include Desert Magazine, New
Mexico Magazine, Rendezvous Magazine, Southwest Profile, Coyote News,
Taos Magazine and Southwest Art.
Zar was involved with major movie studios where he worked
professionally and became friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger and
Sylvester Stallone. Among other celebrities are Frank Sinatra, Jack
Palance, Don Rickles and Hal Holbrook, all of whom have his paintings
in their private collections. Zar, also referred to as The Still Life
Magician, continues to create his striking still life and visionary
works in oils.
