A n artist with a penchant for experimentation, particularly for the disparate realms of realism and abstraction, Wichita-based James Kandt has developed a style that he dubbed “abstract realism.” By selecting unique perspectives found in the wiry formations of tree limbs, closely cropped to disorient and confound the viewer, he has created a way for audiences to experience the natural world with fresh eyes. Painted in oil on panel or canvas with a meticulous eye for color and texture, the trees writhe and sprawl out, reaching for light like massive tentacles. His formal training in photorealism has aided in the wonderful textures and lighting found in his paintings, while his admiration for non-representational abstraction contributes to more interesting compositional choices. He expertly models the rough-hewn textures of tree bark against the soft hues of the sky, presenting the advance and retreat of foliage throughout the seasons.