Roybal
got his first taste of casting bronze at age 12 from public school
teacher Earnest Badyinski. James was lucky enough to have him also
in high school and worked with him in his studio casting bronze
during summer vacations. His
first juried show, while still in high school, was the 1971 New Mexico Arts and Crafts
Fair, again participating in 1973. James attended Highlands
University and finished his formal education at New Mexico State
University. Both on art scholarships. James
furthered his foundry education working and managing in fine art
foundries for 6 years, until in 1983, he became a full time
artist. James
early on exhibited in Kermezaar Arts and Crafts Show, El Paso,
Texas, 1975; the New Mexican State Fair Professional Fine Arts
Juried Competition, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1978. That year he won 1st
place, Purchase Prize Award ("Outnumbered"). In 1981 he won 4th
place ("Lorraine"). He won best of Show
(People's Choice) in 1986 ("Eye to Eye"). Also in 1986 3rd place
and Purchase Award ("Day Dreams"). In 1988 he won Best of Show and
4th place ("Winter Shadow"). In 1992 He won Honorable Mention Award
("Reflections"). Roybal participated in and was a juror
for the first Santa Fe Festival of the Arts, 1979. Participating
again in 1980. James has been invited to participate in a number
of shows, including the Southern New Mexico Fair Art Exhibition,
1984; the first annual New Mexico Art Gala, Santa Fe, 1985; the
Vista Invitational Exhibition, Stables Art Center, Taos, NM, 1986;
Art Of and On Paper Invitational Show, Stables Art Center, 1986;
the Spring Arts and Crafts Expo, Albuquerque, NM, 1986; the Governor's
Gallery, New Mexico State Capital, 1987; the Albuquerque New
Mexico Museum, Annual Miniatures Show, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994. He
was asked to judge the Santa Fe Contemporary Spanish Market in 1999. James
was asked to demonstrate and speak to the New Mexico Pastel Society in
Albuquerque, 2000. James's
work appears in the book "Contemporary Western Artist."
Roybal's work is in collections throughout the United States, in
England, Australia, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the
Caribbean, New Zealand, Norway and Japan. Roybal has had numerous
shows in galleries in Albuquerque, Aspen, Beaver Creek, Colorado
Springs, Dallas, Denver, Durango, Fort Worth, Houston, Jackson Hole,
Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Santa Fe, Sarasota,
Scottsdale, Sedona, Taos, Vail; and James has professionally
exhibited in Santa Fe, New Mexico continuously since 1976; in Taos
New Mexico since 1983; Scottsdale for 17 years and Jackson for 10. Roybal
is exploring new horizons. Excelling in both painting and
sculpting in college, for more than 25 years, James has
concentrated on sculpting in bronze and marble, only painting and
drawing for his own pleasure. Since
studying with renowned pastel and oil painter Albert Handel in
1995, James decided to devote more time and energy to his
painting. James says, "I felt at ease the first time I tried
pastel; it was like coming home." Now James is looking
forward to painting and sculpting. "I
am always looking for new challenges, in bronze and painting. I am
not looking for a particular recognizable style. A particular
style can be limiting. More important, I hope to grow with subtle
maturity. There is always another level to obtain, new
understanding of structure, form, the use of color, lost and found
edges, light and shadow. Each painting or sculpture brings new
challenges and new ways of seeing. Working in bronze and painting
has opened new horizons for me." On
a personal note: "I enjoy fly fishing, snow skiing, scuba diving
(having done over 350 dives), mountain biking, roller blading,
dancing, photography; (personal and my own work 4x5s),
construction, having built my studio-with attached house over 4100
square feet, and traveling from Europe to Australia, Fiji to Japan." gallery
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