Except for a brief period of study at the Art Student's League in New York, James Harrington is self taught. Initially influenced by the writings of "Ash Can School" artist Robert Henri, Harrington he has gone on to develop his own theories of color and composition. In his use of color, he seeks combinations that are fresh and unusual and suffuses his paintings with light. His placement of figures and objects in his paintings is based on a careful balance of color and an asymmetrical compositional rhythm, which he has described as "leading the eye with meter."

An elected member of the American Society of Marine Artists, Harrington has a reputation initially founded on his work with marine subjects...