James Douglas Cooper is an Australian artist living and working between Sydney & California. He studied in Sydney, Australia and holds a degree in Visual Communications and has lived abroad for many years; firstly in Europe, United Kingdom and America.James’ work is inspired most directly by a combination of mysticism, the metaphysical and the visible natural environment, specifically the oceans and marine environments. Cooper likes to layer and texture his work, building up images up over a period of time – often taking months just to complete one image. His practice has always revolved around drawing as a way of seeing and understanding / interpreting the world around him. Time living and working abroad in London, Dublin, New York and Los Angeles has informed Cooper's process and influenced his aesthetic notions. A recent trip to Japan opened Cooper's eyes to a new way of seeing and his drawn and painted works have undoubtedly been influenced by this Japanese aesthetic.