Artist James Pratt is a world-renowned palette knife artist and is considered one of the Modern Masters. James was introduced to art at a young age by his father while sitting on his lap and copying his father's pencil drawings. His life has always revolved around design and creativity. His great grandfather immigrated to New Zealand from England in 1858 and is a published writer his art hanging in the Museum of Art, Auckland, New Zealand. James paints with a palette knife which he has been using for over fifteen years. He studied how to paint Alla Prima and finds the knife the best tool to encourage a lively and impressionistic treatment, providing an exciting contrast of scale, and adding greatly to the impact of the finished painting.