Introduced to painting as a teenage summer worker, James McCausland got an early start in the business. He carried that experience into launching his own painting company, McCausland Painting, but he soon became bored with typical painting jobs and craved more interesting projects—and more freedom.
In 2023, James was certified in Fine Paints of Europe, a specialty paint system prized for ultra-smooth, high-gloss finishes, and began focusing predominantly on that work. More recently, he added certification in VeroMetal finishing, expanding his offerings to include real-metal surface coatings that replicate materials like bronze and brass.
James sees himself as a finisher, not just a painter. He can roll a wall with the best of them, but what he brings to the table is something different. His gloss work, plaster, and metal finishes don’t just add color to a room—they create a mood and reflect the homeowner’s style. He has now carved out a niche for himself in high-end specialty finishes, which has given him the chance to travel all over the country, taking on projects of his choosing.
“Bringing in all these people that I have a history with—and who work well together—is partly why I enjoy the road. I essentially spend all day with friends doing cool stuff because we all enjoy the same thing.”
– James McCausland, McCausland Painting
“I like having the freedom to do what I want,” James says. “I also like money, and being in a specialty is more profitable and less stressful than running a generalized business.”
While traveling feeds his creative itch, the greater satisfaction comes from solving problems that far-from-home projects can present. He enjoys figuring out how to source materials locally at the last minute, and how to adapt to a change in scope once he arrives at the site. But the best part, he says, is assembling a team.
“Bringing in all these people that I have a history with—and who work well together—is partly why I enjoy the road,” he says. “I essentially spend all day with friends doing cool stuff because we all enjoy the same thing.”
The work is exacting and requires patience, but the reward is showing people what’s possible. And, of course, seeing the results impress not only his Instagram followers but also his clients. “One client told me he didn’t know his house could even feel like this,” James says. “That was one of the best compliments I’ve ever received.”
— Jennifer Morris; editorial assistant. Photo by Ryan Bent Photography.
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