Thay ain't jus' sticks in der

Thay ain't jus' sticks in der

20x26
Wood Panel Board, House Paint, Acrylic Paint
Framed

Description
They Ain’t Just Sticks In There looks at what lies beneath the surface of the Appalachian woods. James Powers paints this work as a reminder that a fallen branch or a cut log is never just debris. Inside the hollows and under the piles are snakes, old bones, and the remains of creatures long gone. The Appalachian Mountains are the oldest mountains in the world and hold layers of history pressed into every ridge.

James uses upcycled materials that already carry their own scars and textures, mirroring the hidden life inside the forest floor. The work hints at fossils, buried memories, and the quiet presence of things that lived here long before us. It reflects the way the mountains keep their stories tucked inside the land, waiting for someone willing to look closer.

About the Artist
James Powers is a painter and woodworker from McDowell County, West Virginia. He creates his panels and frames from found wood, reclaimed canvas, masonite, and other salvaged materials. His art blends Appalachian folklore, cryptid stories, coal field history, and 80s and 90s pop culture. Much of his work circles themes of hidden truths, environmental change, and the spirits that move through the mountains.