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I'm never sure what so-called "artist's statements" and "bios" are intended to reveal about either the artist or his or her work. By way of introduction, I consider myself a recovering nuclear engineer and corporate manager who somehow found my way to an MFA and careers in art and teaching. I still do some consulting in the so-called "real" business world, mostly in matters having to do with quality assurance. And I interact with businesses through my Threshold Workshops. That's where I help participants transform their relationships to creativity, solve problems, and learn to access what I call the "conceptual mind." In addition, I facilitate the Bridgeway Artists, a salon for professional artists who are looking for an "edge" in their work; I teach a program for middle-school students on the intersection of art and science; and I am the founder and an active participant in the Artists of Issaquah (AOI), a community association whose mission is to help people discover themselves as artists.
My sculptures and paintings have appeared in numerous art shows. Stylistically, the work is eclectic and, more than anything, mirrors my philosophy that art is primarily about change and movement--spiritual, psychological, emotional, intellectual, kinesthetic, or a combination. Art, that is, true art is a response to the imagination, which can never be allowed to stagnate. So the appearance of style in my work varies or appears to vary from one group of pieces to another, sometimes from one week to another.
I consider myself a representational painter first and foremost, but in the last few years I've developed an assemblage habit that won't quit. My passion for mixed media sculpture in wood, clay, metal, and found objects continues to grow. I suppose that comes from my engineering background and loving to work with my hands. In addition to these creative outlets, I recently completed two outdoor installations in aluminum and another in wood for waterfront homes, one of which is shown on the home page of this website. And speaking of home, I live, work, and show my art in the houseboat Casa de Amor with my partner Paro on the Sausalito waterfront near San Francisco, California.
Jim and Paro on Richardson Bay
Here are some photos of the studio/gallery at Casa de Amor.
