Meet James Knill: Artist and Art Gallery Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with James Knill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
Having faith in what I do and believing in myself. Being honest and always learning new things, Having the courage and the perseverance to push through and reach my goals, Trusting in the bigger picture, being able to see the bigger picture and using my imagination to see what’s possible. Being true to myself and creating what I want to, and having fun with that. Keeping a good vibe and positive energy flow. I have acquired a lot of beneficial habits through my martial arts practice. Through martial arts, I learn how to deal with pressure and build confidence. I currently have a black belt in Taekwondo and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I always stay inspired by checking out other artists, exhibitions, movies, shows and businesses. I surround myself with positive and inspired people. Having my wife as my business partner is my most important factor because she is the cornerstone of our business. She always believes in me and gives me valuable insight. It’s also important for me to share any abundance I receive. I try to support other small businesses, artists and individuals that are positively manifesting their own destinies. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a freestyle artist. I work in either photography or oil painting. My photography portfolio spans different types of subject matter ranging from landscape, portraiture, street, and surfing. When I paint I create what I feel at that moment, whether it is an abstract or a landscape painting. I don’t pay any mind to staying with a particular “look” or “style”. I also do custom framing and I have a custom frame shop in my art gallery. I view custom framing as an artform. I enjoy framing as much as I do photography and painting. I enjoy working with my clienteles’ art collections, elevating and preserving their cherished works of art. I started working in art galleries at the age of 16, and after a few decades, I acquired enough knowledge to be able to understand how to create and sustain my own art business. My biggest challenge was the limited amount of resources I had when I started my business, but I will also say that this created a strong foundation because I learned how to operate with limited resources and keep my expenses under control. The lesson I learned along the way, is to do my own thing with my own style. I don’t rely on the latest fads to see what is selling. Staying authentic to my own creative spirit is what allows me to gratefully do what I do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to the beach and then explore the different downtowns and their small business establishments, art galleries and museums. I recommend taking the Brightline train to Miami. I also enjoy West Palm and Palm Beach island. Also taking a road trip through Florida is always interesting. A few of my favorite destinations are the west coast of Florida, the Salvador Dali museum, Crystal River, and Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a shoutout to my wife, Amanda Johnson. She is the best business partner I could ever have! Without her, our business wouldn’t be what it is today. She believed in us since day one! I also want to thank everyone that has supported us since the beginning.

Website: https://www.amandajamesgallery.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_knill/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandajamesgallery