The Rochester Public Library is pleased to present the works of New Hampshire-based artist James Belcher during the month of September on the First Floor of the Library. Belcher describes his work as follows:

“New England landscapes have been the primary source of inspiration for my oil paintings. As a native of New England, my wife and I have settled in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire since 1995. The natural beauty of New England, and especially central New Hampshire, is what motivates me to create art here. God’s natural beauty does not get any better for subject matter to paint and draw, in my opinion. For the observer of my paintings, I try to instill a peaceful and enduring quality. My goal is for you to have a feeling of well-being by enjoying the peaceful scenery. My process for creating a painting begins by observing different landscape settings. I look for a striking composition; next, I capture it with my camera. A strong composition is key to an exciting new painting. I work in my studio at home, using the quiet winter months to complete my work. Each painting takes about one month to complete. I prefer the medium of oil paint and pen and ink because I have great control of the medium, and I am happy with the result. My formal education includes a B.S. at Suffolk University and a Master of Education at Harvard University. However, my main development has been the time practicing art for over 50 years. In 1987, I opened an art gallery at a cooperative in the Lowell National Historic Park. In 1995, the Meredith Historical Society asked me to create a farm museum using a very large collection of farm tools they collected over the years. There were once 23 farms in the local area going back to the 1700s. A friend and I created the farm museum that is still used for special occasions. It is located in an 1801 meeting house and church in Meredith, NH. A second opportunity came when the Laconia Historical Society and Museum asked me to create a calendar depicting historic scenes of classic buildings in the small city. My wife and I are currently retired, allowing me to put more time into my passion for art while enjoying our seven grandchildren and family.”