At Chashama Open Studios in Brooklyn, painter James Rose explores the emotional power of water, wilderness, and the landscapes that shape human experience.
Some artists paint what they see.
Others paint what they feel.
For James Rose, the two are inseparable.
Walking into his studio during Chashama Open Studios at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, visitors encounter paintings that are deeply rooted in personal experience. Rivers, coastlines, waterfalls, harbors, beaches, and natural environments emerge not simply as landscapes, but as emotional territories. His work is less concerned with documenting a location and more interested in capturing the feeling of being there.
Water, in particular, has become the central force guiding his current practice.
Rose speaks about it almost as a living presence. It is a source of movement, transformation, reflection, and renewal. Whether standing beside the ocean, hiking near a stream, or watching a harbor come alive with activity, water has a profound impact on the way he experiences the world.
It is not surprising, then, that it has become the foundation of his paintings.
Originally from Upstate New York, Rose spent many years living in California before settling in New York City more than a decade ago. Over the years, his artistic journey has followed him through different regions, landscapes, and environments, each leaving its own imprint on his work.
Today, nature remains his greatest source of inspiration.
The wilderness, the beach, the mountains, and the ever-changing relationship between land and water all provide material for exploration. For Rose, spending time outdoors is not a luxury. It is a necessity.
He describes being drawn to water almost instinctively.
Living in San Francisco once meant being surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. Today, his studio at Chashama sits near the Brooklyn waterfront, while his home in Bay Ridge keeps him connected to New York Harbor and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Whether by accident or intention, water continues to shape the geography of his life.
And, in turn, his art.
For years, Rose focused on urban subjects. He created drawings and paintings inspired by subway systems, crowded public spaces, and the movement of people through the city. Looking back, he now sees a surprising connection between those earlier works and his current fascination with natural landscapes.
People, after all, are largely made of water.
The movement of commuters descending subway stairs can feel surprisingly similar to the flow of a waterfall. Crowds move like currents. Human bodies become rivers of motion. The connection between the urban and natural worlds is closer than it first appears.
This realization has allowed Rose to weave together different chapters of his artistic career into a broader exploration of movement, energy, and life itself.
His creative process begins with observation.
Sketchbooks and large sheets of Bristol paper often accompany him on excursions throughout New York City and beyond. Using charcoal, he creates drawings directly from life, capturing trees, landscapes, architecture, and fleeting moments encountered during his travels.
The physical act of drawing remains essential.
Charcoal gliding across smooth Bristol paper allows him to explore tone, light, and atmosphere in a way that feels immediate and intuitive. These sketches often become the foundation for larger paintings developed later in the studio.
Photography also plays a major role.
Like many contemporary artists, Rose constantly documents the world around him with his phone. Hikes, waterfronts, forests, and unexpected discoveries become part of a growing visual archive that informs future work.
Family has become part of that process as well.
Many of these explorations are shared with his twelve-year-old son, who accompanies him on outdoor adventures through forests, swimming holes, and natural landscapes. Together they discover places that later find their way into Rose’s paintings.
The influence works both ways.
While Rose encourages his son’s creativity, he also finds inspiration in watching a younger generation engage with the world. His son has developed a growing interest in filmmaking and production, often paying close attention to sound design and technical details that many adults overlook.
Inside the studio, however, the focus shifts entirely to painting.
Rose begins his days slowly. A cup of green tea, music playing through headphones, and a moment of quiet reflection help him transition into the creative process. He is careful not to spend too much time on social media or distractions once he arrives.
Instead, he prefers to enter the studio with a clear sense of what comes next.
One of his most practical habits is stopping work at a point where he already knows the next move. This allows him to return the following day without hesitation, immediately reconnecting with the painting rather than searching for direction.
Once he begins, focus takes over.
Painting sessions often become periods of intense concentration that can last for hours. Music fills the room while ideas unfold rapidly across the canvas.
Although Rose works on multiple paintings when necessary, he generally prefers moving quickly through a piece. There is an urgency to his process, a desire to stay connected to the energy that sparked the work in the first place.
That momentum is carrying into an exciting new chapter.
Recently, Rose was awarded a residency in Sonoma, California, where he will spend two weeks living and working near the Russian River. The residency provides an opportunity to immerse himself in a landscape that has already begun inspiring new ideas.
The river itself has become the focus of an upcoming body of work.
For Rose, the Russian River is more than a geographical feature. It is a lifeline that nourishes vineyards, wildlife, ecosystems, and communities throughout the region. He sees it as an artery flowing through the landscape, connecting everything around it.
It is precisely the kind of subject that resonates with his artistic philosophy.
Whether painting a waterfall, a harbor, a beach, or a winding river, Rose continually returns to the same essential question: how do natural forces shape the way we experience ourselves and the world around us?
The answers may never be fully resolved.
But within his paintings, viewers are invited to explore those questions alongside him.
About Tarik Talk Podcast
Tarik Talk Podcast is an international arts and culture podcast hosted by Tarik Mendes, featuring conversations with artists, curators, designers, cultural leaders, and creative entrepreneurs from around the world. With more than 200 episodes across 50 seasons and interviews recorded in over 10 countries, the podcast explores the stories, inspirations, and ideas shaping contemporary culture.