TRUE PLACES: What’s it about?
When I stepped away from teaching in higher education in 2015, all those words needed somewhere to go. Apart from essays, articles, interviews and books, writing has long been part of my creative practice, which is focused on exploring the artistic intercices of mindful travel, history and environmentalism. True Places unpacks field notes, commentaries, reviews, interviews, and visuals, as a way to promote a dialogue about developing humane and sustainable ways to coexist with nature, and with each other.
Why subscribe?
Unpaid subscribers have acccess to limited content, but paid subscribers receive full access to everything in the newsletter and on the website. Never miss an update.
Stay up-to-date
You won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox.
Join the conversation
Read. Watch. Post comments. Expand our community of environmentally-minded, culturally engaged, sustainability-motivated readers and makers.
To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.
What People Are Saying about James Lancel McElhinney
“James is the pied piper of sketchbook journaling, providing not only patient and inspiring D.I.Y. instruction; but linking one’s personal practice to the passionate explorers, pilgrims, and travelers of old.”
—Craig Bruns, Chief Curator. Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia
“Artist James Lancel McElhinney incorporates many elements into his work, including history, nature, and travel, exploring itineraries and narratives that have shaped the American landscape.”
—Fine Art Connoisseur magazine
“McElhinney is that rare contemporary artist who at once seems to live in our 21st century moment of environmental consciousness and at the same time follow in the footsteps of 18th century topographic explorers and 19th century picturesque artists. His knowledge is voracious, and his writing style witty and gregarious”
—Anna O. Marley, Ph.D. Kenneth R. Woodcock Curator of Historical American Art
Director of the Center for the Study of the American Artist
“McElhinney's warm prose and exquisite, keenly-observed sketches open our mind and eyes to our own potential for mindful, artful travels.
—Sean E. Sawyer, Ph.D. | The Olana Partnership
“Following in the footsteps of such noted artist-travelers as Albrecht Durer and David Hockney, as well as explorers such as Charles Darwin and Marianne North, James Lancel McElhinney has crafted a beautiful work of devotion”
—Deanna Stillman, author of Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West.
“McElhinney does not ignore the awful histories of these western landscapes. . . Rather these paintings reckon with the difficulty of actually seeing the western landscape and confronting, or understanding, what it conceals. Yet McElhinney urges us to. . . stop and think about the layers of history hidden in America’s western landscapes.”
—Erica Doss. The American West in Art. Denver Art Museum. 2022
“For McElhinney what we call landscape is actually “a palimpsest of simultaneous narratives. . . conditioned by the forces of nature.” We look forward to seeing more, and encourage other artists to consider whether McElhinney’s approach—a blend of the traditional and cutting edge—may serve their purposes as well”
—Peter Trippi, Editor in Chief, Fine Art Connoisseur magazine
“Sketchbook Traveler. . . is a guide for mindful engagement in documenting every day as a memorable adventure”
—Lee Anne Albritton. Chronogram magazine
