James Tughan

J A M E S T U G H A N
Perigee Designs and the mapping of ideas

Sight gleaned
by the measure of a wing,
is walked by hand
and eye, absorbed
through the sifting heart
of a feather’s span;
the finest grams of spirit,
mapped.

James Tughan, B.Th., B.A. Hon., is a professional visual artist working in the world
of fine art, illustration and education at all age levels.In his own visual work
as one of the world’s foremost pastel artists. “Cartographic Realism” is a marriage of
aerial visual mapping, natural symbolism, and a Christian theology of the
person. This style of imagery respectfully draws metaphors for the seen and unseen
world of spirit from the natural surface topography of the visual subject
matter itself. It exploits amazing detail and surface patterning, texture, colour,
lighting and narrative possibilities. This style infers that there is more to see than
immediately meets the eye that is suggested by mapping, the mapping of ideas.

James, born in Montreal, grew up in Toronto, studied architecture (UofT), theology (Tyndale College)
and fine art (University of Waterloo).His career in fine art, editorial illustration, and design consulting,
has spanned 37 years. His work has been commissioned by major corporations
throughout North America and such magazines as Rolling Stone, Esquire, Saturday Night and House & Garden.

James currently is on the faculty of Redeemer University College (Ancaster), and has served for several years
on faculty of Sheridan University Institute, Oakville, Kings Christian Collegiate, Oakville, Tyndale seminary
Tyndale Seminary (Toronto) and The Kingsbridge School Of The Arts, Burlington. He is a founding member
of the Semaphore Institute and its mentoring programs with children, (Firefleyes), adolescents (Headwaters),
College students (Aperture) and International groups of artists in churches (Forerunner). It is with this latter
program, Forerunner, that his landmark exhibition and seminar ministry, The Dreaming Of Lions Project has
travelled throughout Canada, The United States, China, Bulgaria, Colombia, England and Egypt.
James is married to social worker Donna Kaufman, and has two children Alex, 19 and Rachel 22.
They live in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

“The extraordinary drawings of Oakville artist James Tughan can be appreciated by everyone,
from the most sophisticated aesthete to those with less experience with visual art. The subtlety
of design and sumptuous execution seduces the eye and then dignifies the mind. His artwork
elevates both his subject matter most importantly its viewer.”
(David Saltmarche, See Spot Run, Toronto)

Visit James at his blog http://jamestughan.blogspot.com/