Pickup Painting

Jim lives and works in Wichita, Kansas. He works primarily in acrylics, but also creates in mixed media, ceramic and sculpture. His works have been included in numerous shows include Wichita Arts Council Juried Shows, Kansas Watercolor 7-State Exhibitions, National Abstract Show and National All-Media Exhibits at MarkArts and in private and corporate art collections. He studied under Wilma Wethington, Patric Rowley and Jim Gross. Jim's art starts with the act of soaking up thousands of pieces of color, pattern or unique form. This storehouse of inspirational fragments are reflected in his work later. "I am driven to create new scenes and new images. An eye for the unique and picturesque merges with a love for worn and battered things." His expressionistic imagery is often focused on botanical and wildlife inspired images. The process of letting the image evolve on the surface, working up layers, destroying parts, letting others parts gleam through from underneath, aggressively scrubbing paint onto the surface, carving into previous layers, all contribute to a richer image. Every layer or vibrating broken line adding character and nuance. The majority of Jim's work is acrylic painting. It’s a medium that works well with his method of painting. "Other works done in mosaic or sculpture provide a wealth of motifs that find their way back into my easel paintings. If I were to characterize my work in a few words it would be expressive and sincere, I believe the process of letting the image evolve on the surface results in a more authentic and fresh result."