Jim's Information

Artist Statement

As child I was surrounded by the arts. My father is a writer, and my mother a visual artist and illustrator. My earliest memories are of the smell of oil paint and the click of an old manual typewriter. But as I grew up, I recalled the early days of extreme poverty, and felt anxious about entering the field of the arts, in spite of their more recent success.

I graduated from high school in Bemidji , Minnesota and attended Bemidji State University , receiving a degree in Elementary Education. I taught for a time in New Mexico , on Holloman Air Force Base, before realizing that I missed the arts fiercely. I liked teaching, but I loved art. It seemed there was no escaping it.

I left my short career as a teacher behind and set out to find my niche in the art world. I had no clear idea what I wanted to do, how I wanted to express my creative spirit, so I began with what I was familiar with, writing and visual arts. But after writing for a time, and limited success as a freelance cartoonist, I was still left with a void, a certain lack of fulfillment.

Then, while on the phone during a winter's day in 1998, I idly thumbed some of my daughter's play dough. By the end of the conversation, I had completed a simple, crude bust of a man. I fell in love with the clay at that very moment and knew I had found what I was looking for.

Since that moment I have tried to evolve a style of work that focuses on form and expression, while still retaining images from the natural world around us. In my work I attempt to stay true to the subject in anatomy and motion, but at the same time allow the clay or wax to speak with the rich textures that translate so beautifully in bronze.

It is my hope that as I learn and grow artistically, I will create works that will evolve with me, and allow the viewer to experience even a small amount of the sheer joy that I feel when my hands hit the clay.

James W. Paulsen

Resume

EDUCATION:

1989-1994 Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
B.S. Elementary Education with Science and History emphasis
Graduated Magna cum Laude

2000 & 2001 Wildlife in Sculpture with David Turner

2001 Human Anatomy in Sculpture with David Klass

2003 Horse Anatomy in Sculpture with David Klass

GALLERY AND JURIED SHOWS

2006 Juried Show: Sculpture in the Park in Loveland, Colorado

2006 Invitational Show: Anne Irwin Fine Arts, Atlanta, Georgia

2005 Group Show: Canyon Road Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico

2004-2005 Group shows, Great River Gallery, Bemidji, Minnesota

2004 Two Person Show: Art Studio: A Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

2004 Juried Show: Minnetonka Center for The Arts Sculpture Show,
Minnetonka, Minnesota

2003 Juried Show: Stone Arch Festival of The Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota

2003 Two Person Show: Art Studio: A Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

2002 Two Person Show: Art Studio: A Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

2001 Two Person Show: Art Studio: A Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

COMMISSIONS:

2006 Installation of life size bronze sculpture of US Marine Charles W. Lindberg for Defenders of Freedom Memorial in Bemidji, Minnesota

Numerous pieces in private collections

PUBLISHED:

2006 Sculpture of “On the Fence” used in the production of the feature film; Road Hogs

2006 Bust of “Bass Reeves” featured on back cover of published book, Bass Reeves, by Gary Paulsen

2006 American Art Collector, March publication. Featured article and image.

2003 Luxury Living Magazine, featured article with images.

REPRESENTATION:

Canyon Road Fine Art, 621 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501
505.988.9511 www.canyonroadfineart.com

Anne Irwin Fine Art, 25-D Bennett Street, N.W., Atlanta, GA 30309
404.352.1855 www.anneirwinfineart.com

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