Hello
I'm Jim, a printmaker, illustrator and designer. I've developed a broad skill set as a graphic designer, illustrator, art director, display designer, decor designer, fabricator and inventor. I've also worked in the fine arts, showing work throughout the Pacific Northwest. I debuted my first mechanical assemblage in New York City in 2011. I'm an Artist in Residence at the Museum of Mechanical Art & Design in Stratford Upon Avon, U.K., where several pieces are on permanent display.
Today my primary focus is creating linoleum block prints — illustrations carved into linoleum, inked and hand burnished onto paper. It applies the same basic techniques as ancient wood block printing.
Inspiration
I’ve lived my entire life in the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by towering snow capped peaks, coastal islands, lush rainforests, rich farmland, and high-deserts. All within just a few hours drive. It’s truly a magnificent place.
Growing up as a country kid, most people I new were connected to the sea, the farmlands, or the forests. Our first jobs were likely in those industries, and fortunately some of us still hold on to that heritage.
Memories of bonfires on the beach, catching your first fish, digging your first clam, eating your first Dungeness crab, and the excitement of your first ferry ride are ingrained into the souls of Northwest coasters. Those memories, along with present day travels, are the basis of the images I create. I’m inspired by the land and sea around me, and the experiences of all the people that call the Northwest coast their home, including all the First Peoples, which I am proud to be part of.
We are all truly blessed.
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My Work
I describe my work as modern coastal folkart. Not the conventionally definition that it's produced without formal art training, but certainly that it is hand-made and rooted in community traditions and cultural heritage.
I consider myself a visual storyteller — telling the stories of the people that call the coast their home. Most of the images I create portray a point of view. I want the viewer to share that perspective with the people whose lives are being depicted. To imagine, to discover, and to understand, with a sense of humor and delight.
You'll see a common host of characters, mostly animals. A seagull, a cat, a crow and a set of small birds typically share the view. Although the images specifically depict life on the Pacific Northwest coast, these scenes are evocative of many coastal regions around the country. I've sold coastal themed art to collectors in Texas, North Carolina and New England.
Each piece is hand carved, hand inked and hand burnished onto sumi-e paper, a Japanese-style paper made from various plant fibers. Hand pressing insures that each piece will be a bit unique.