Work samples

  • Ferry To Clare Island

    This soundscape/video was filmed in the fall of 2023 while in Ireland for a musical preference on Clare Island which is off the coast of Westport, Island. The video was taken off the side of the ferry to the island. I have never till then had to take a ferry ride to a band gig. The soundscape for this video was added this year once I returned. 

  • "First Snow" by Brain Forest, music & video by James Wilson Sr.
    "First Snow" by "Brain Forest" is a new track recorded and filmed in 2021 for my upcoming 5 CD. Works produced as "Brain Forest" are my solo studio projects.
  • Angst by Brain Forest
    "Angst" by "Brain Forest" is a new track recorded and filmed in 2021 for my upcoming 5 CD. Works produced as "Brain Forest" are my solo studio projects.
  • Dreaming On Eighty Three
    "Dreaming On Eighty Three" by "Brain Forest" is a new track recorded and filmed in 2021 for my upcoming 5 CD. Works produced as "Brain Forest" are my solo studio projects.

About James

His work is concerned with geometric patterns and organic shapes found in nature. These become building blocks for his paintings, photographs, sculpture, jewelry and music.  These concepts of form and design have overflown into his most recent music & videos. From 1970-72, James studied ceramics at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk VA. Wishing to further his art education, he came to Baltimore to attend MICA and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1977. For 35 years, he worked as an orthotist… more

THE TRAIN

THE TRAIN is a series of videos with electronic ambient soundscapes by James M. Wilson Sr. under the name of Brain Forest. This section of works were recorded at Bird House Studios, Baltimore, Maryland in the fall of 2024. Video filmed in September of 2024

  • THE TRAIN

    THE TRAIN is a series of videos with electronic ambient soundscapes by James M. Wilson Sr. under the name of Brain Forest. This section of works were recorded at Bird House Studios, Baltimore, Maryland in the fall of 2024. Video filmed in September of 2024.w

MUSIC FOR A PANDEMIC / Brain Forest

Here are videos from my 4th CD release as "Brain Forest" entitled "Music For A Pandemic". 
https://music.apple.com/us/album/music-for-a-pandemic/1536501633

I have been a working drummer/percussionist for over 50 years. My musical carrier started in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia playing enlisted men’s service clubs and area clubs at 16.  I moved to Baltimore in 1972 from Portsmouth, Virginia to attend the Maryland Institute-College of Art receiving a BFA degree in 1977. I have played a wide variety of music in the Baltimore / Washington area for over 48 years, R&B, soul, traditional American, Punk and Irish.
 It has been a wild and crazy trip after moving to Baltimore, Maryland in 1972, from playing CBGB’s with Da Moronics to playing The White House for President Obama with O’Malley’s March. I truly have been blessed.  I have been recorded on over 30 CDs in a wide variety of musical styles over the last 40 years. Over the last 20 years my solo musical projects have been based around deep percussion tracks, ambient field recording, and melodic musical passages. On these ambient particular CDs, they go by the group name of “Brain Forest”, which some of which have guest artists as well.      
  • A Li Li
    A LiLi - Track 1 from my CD - "MUSIC FOR A PANDEMIC" by BRAIN FOREST Music & Video by James Wilson Sr. On this track guest artist Jared Denhard plays a chinese HULUSI.
  • August Mayhem - Brain Forest
    August Mayhem - Track 2 from my CD - "MUSIC FOR A PANDEMIC" by BRAIN FOREST Music & Video by James Wilson Sr.
  • HARD RAIN
    Hard Rain - Track 3 from my CD - "MUSIC FOR A PANDEMIC" by BRAIN FOREST Music & Video by James Wilson Sr.
  • "WAITING"
    Waiting - Track 4 from my CD - "MUSIC FOR A PANDEMIC" by BRAIN FOREST Music & Video by James Wilson Sr.
  • World On The Brink
    World On The Brink - Track 7 from my CD - "MUSIC FOR A PANDEMIC" by BRAIN FOREST Music & Video by James Wilson Sr. The footage of Trumps march to St. John's Episcopal Church reminded me of other country changing footage from our past: The Kennedy assassination in 1963, the Nixon "I am not a crook speech in 1973, The fall of the Twin Towers..... All of which still give me CHILLS!
  • THIS TO WILL PASS
    This To Will Pass - Track 8 from my CD - "MUSIC FOR A PANDEMIC" by BRAIN FOREST Music & Video by James Wilson Sr.
  • Morning Dancing In The Street
    Morning Dancing In The Street - Track 9 from my CD - "MUSIC FOR A PANDEMIC" by BRAIN FOREST Music & Video by James Wilson Sr. Words & Voice by guest writer & vocalist Karen Webber.
  • Can't See Whar's Killing Us
    Can't See What's Killing Us - Track 10 from my CD - "MUSIC FOR A PANDEMIC" by BRAIN FOREST Music & Video by James Wilson Sr.

New Music Videos for 2021

With COVID lock down, lost bookings, and less opportunities to play with other musicians in 2021, I have found myself recording more music and videos in order to stay connected with my artistic community. Here are a few more pieces from 2021. 
  • "First Snow" by Brain Forest, music & video by James Wilson Sr.
    "First Snow" by "Brain Forest" is a new track recorded and filmed in 2021 for my upcoming 5 CD. Works produced as "Brain Forest" are my solo studio projects.
  • Second Snow / Brain Forest / James Wilson Sr - HD 720p
    "Second Snow" by "Brain Forest" is a new track recorded and filmed in 2021 for my upcoming 5 CD. Works produced as "Brain Forest" are my solo studio projects.
  • A Spring Walk
    "A Spring Walk" by "Brain Forest" is a new track recorded and filmed in 2021 for my upcoming 5 CD. Works produced as "Brain Forest" are my solo studio projects.
  • Is This The Beginning or The End
    "Is This The Beginning or The End" by "Brain Forest" is a new track recorded and filmed in 2021 for my upcoming 5 CD. Works produced as "Brain Forest" are my solo studio projects.
  • Angst by Brain Forest
    "Angst" by "Brain Forest" is a new track recorded and filmed in 2021 for my upcoming 5 CD. Works produced as "Brain Forest" are my solo studio projects.
  • Dreaming On Eighty Three
    "Dreaming On Eighty Three" by "Brain Forest" is a new track recorded and filmed in 2021 for my upcoming 5 CD. Works produced as "Brain Forest" are my solo studio projects.
  • Take All Of Me
    Take All Of Me - Track 6 from my CD - "MUSIC FOR A PANDEMIC" by BRAIN FOREST Music & Video by James Wilson Sr.
  • Somber Evening
    Somber Evening - Track 5 from my CD - "MUSIC FOR A PANDEMIC" by BRAIN FOREST Music & Video by James Wilson Sr.

The ELEMENTS Series

His newest works which are now under way are based on the Four Classical Elements, Fire, Air, Water, & Earth. The first of which is based of Water. This series of works embrace all the different artistic disciplines he so enjoys. After much thought he realized all these different things he has been creating are all just parts of larger pieces of art. The sculptural aspect of these works will embrace his years of work in the prosthetic & orthotic field, The objects which will be adorning the figures will embrace his new found love of making jewelry, The back panels will provide a component for his love of oil painting landscapes and a surface for secret geometry patterns, He is very excited to be working on these new pieces. He reports, there is still so much still to do!
  • Water
    Water
    "WATER" is the first of a series of multimedia art works entitled "ELEMENTS". This series is based on the four elements, WATER, AIR, FIRE, & EARTH. This series of works are a new direction for me in an attempt to use many of the materials and styles of art that I love to work within: landscape painting, figurative sculpture, jewelry, and sacred geometry. ​ "WATER" is constructed as follows: back panel is oil paint on wooden panels with painted acrylic borders, with addition back of paint design wa painted with gold oil paint and then the design pattern was drew with a Sharpie marker. The crown is constructed of brass casting using the lost wax process, carved wood and sea shells which were then covered in gold leaf, and wire wrapped metal for the head band section of the crown. The figure is constructed of portland cement which has been painted with oil paint. And the base is constructed of wood and also painted with oil paint. The upside down pyramid on the chest of the figure is constructed out of copper.
  • FIRE
    FIRE
    FIRE - oil on wooden panel - 48” X 36”
  • AIR
    AIR
    AIR - oil on wooden panel - 48” X 36”
  • EARTH
    EARTH
    EARTH - oil on canvas - 50” X 25”
  • SPIRIT
    SPIRIT
    SPIRIT - casein & oil on wooden panels - 36” X 120”
  • Water - detail 1
    Water - detail 1
    Water - detail 1
  • Water-detail 2
    Water-detail 2
    Water-detail 2
  • Water - detail 3
    Water - detail 3
    Water - detail 3
  • Water - detail 4
    Water - detail 4
    Water - detail 4
  • Water - detail 5
    Water - detail 5
    Water - detail 5

Scared Geometry

Over the last year I have been interest in the study of "Scared Geometry" and how these repeated patterns and images resurface over and over in different cultures, in nature, and architecture. I found these works to be very mediative to paint and to view. I am excited to start incomprating these forms into my other works,  
  • Sacred Geometry #1
    Sacred Geometry #1
    Sacred Geometry #1 - Casein on wooden panel w/wax finish - 36" X 36"
  • Scared Geometry #2
    Scared Geometry #2
    Sacred Geometry #2 - Casein on wooden panel w/wax finish - 36" X 36"
  • Sacred Geometry #3
    Sacred Geometry #3
    Sacred Geometry #3 - Casein on wooden panel w/oil finish - 36” X 36”

Ascension - 3D Construction

  • Ascension (front view)
    Ascension (front view)
    Ascension (front view)
  • Ascension (left 3/4 quarter view)
    Ascension (left 3/4 quarter view)
    Ascension (left 3/4 quarter view)
  • Ascension (right 3/4 quarter view)
    Ascension (right 3/4 quarter view)
    Ascension (right 3/4 quarter view)
  • Ascension (back)
    Ascension (back)
    Ascension (back)
  • Ascension (top)
    Ascension (top)
    Ascension (top)
  • Ascension (detail 1)
    Ascension (detail 1)
    Ascension (detail 1)
  • Ascension (detail 2)
    Ascension (detail 2)
    Ascension (detail 2)
  • Ascension (detail 3)
    Ascension (detail 3)
    Ascension (detail 3)
  • Ascension (detail 4)
    Ascension (detail 4)
    Ascension (detail 4)
  • Acension - (detail 5)
    Acension - (detail 5)
    Acension - (detail 5)

Man's Toil - 3D Construction

  • Man's Toil (1)
    Man's Toil (1)
    Man's Toil (1)
  • Man's Toil (2)
    Man's Toil (2)
    Man's Toil (2)
  • Man's Toil (3)
    Man's Toil (3)
    Man's Toil (3)
  • Man's Toil (4)
    Man's Toil (4)
    Man's Toil (4)

Photography

  • NYPD - Times Square
    NYPD - Times Square
    NYPD - Times Square
  • Winter Window View
    Winter Window View
    Winter Window View
  • Martin O'Malley Tin Type - B&W
    Martin O'Malley Tin Type - B&W
    Martin O'Malley Tin Type - B&W
  • Late Afternoon Sky
    Late Afternoon Sky
    Late Afternoon Sky
  • National Cathedral
    National Cathedral
    National Cathedral
  • Ocean City Sun Fest
    Ocean City Sun Fest
    Ocean City Sun Fest
  • Burnt Toast
    Burnt Toast
    Burnt Toast
  • St. Margarets
    St. Margarets
    St. Margarets
  • Fill Up
    Fill Up
    Fill Up
  • Greenmount Cemetery
    Greenmount Cemetery
    Greenmount Cemetery

Landscapes

This collection of landscapes, I refer to as "Landscapes From Memories Of Places I Have Never Been".
When I studed painting at MICA in 1972-1977 my work went in the direction of large abstract field painting.
As I grow older I have been drawn back to more tradition subject matter, with this series of painting - which are much smaller in size. I long to now paint these painting very large, turning inches into feet.
  • Blue Sky with Clouds
    Blue Sky with Clouds
    Blue Sky with Clouds - oil on wooden panel - 8" X 6"
  • Tornado
    Tornado
    Tornado - oil on wooden panel - 6.5" X 12"
  • Fall Colors
    Fall Colors
    Fall Colors - oil on canvas - 36" X 36"
  • Still Water
    Still Water
    Still Water - oil on wooden panel - 8" X 8"
  • Cold Winter Storm
    Cold Winter Storm
    Cold Winter Storm - oil on wooden panel -10" X 10"
  • Many Trees
    Many Trees
    Many Trees - oil on wooden panel - 9" X 12"
  • Storm Over Green Field
    Storm Over Green Field
    Storm Over Green Field - oil on wooden panel - 12" X 18"
  • Dark Skies
    Dark Skies
    Dark Skies - oil on wooden panel - 6" X 8"
  • Big Sky Distant Mountains
    Big Sky Distant Mountains
    Big Sky Distant Mountains - oil on wooden panel - 9" X 12"
  • Pastel Sky
    Pastel Sky
    Pastel Sky - oil on wooden panel - 6" X 10"

Prints

  • Print1977new.jpg
    Print1977new.jpg
    Print 1977
  • Print 1
    Print 1
    Print 1
  • Print 2
    Print 2
    Print 2
  • Print 3
    Print 3
    Print 3
  • Print 4
    Print 4
    Print 4
  • Print 5
    Print 5
    Print 5
  • Print 6
    Print 6
    Print 6