ARTIST’S STATEMENT & BIOGRAPHY
STATEMENT
Over the years, my style has been influenced by the light studies of the Impressionists, the pointillism of Georges Seurat, and the brushwork of Vincent van Gogh. Driven by abstract expressionism to move beyond purely representational images — to capture the underlying spirit and vitality of the subject matter — my approach has evolved into my energy style. Building layers of complexity into my art, and sometimes hiding little surprises, I get my inspiration from nature and all the amazing life around me.
Using words to describe a visual medium tells only part of the story... please visit my online galleries to experience the overall effect of my energy style artwork.
Caption: The Artist and His Subject… on a 2016 trip to Florida, Jim was honored to meet Rocke, the subject of his Rocke’s Garden painting. Rocke's humans, who are art patrons and animal lovers, commissioned Jim in 2014 to create this piece, using several photos of Rocke as source material. The painting is shown hanging behind Rocke and Jim in this photo. For a closer look at this painting, please visit Animals & People & More and scroll partway down the page.
Over the years, my style has been influenced by the light studies of the Impressionists, the pointillism of Georges Seurat, and the brushwork of Vincent van Gogh. Driven by abstract expressionism to move beyond purely representational images — to capture the underlying spirit and vitality of the subject matter — my approach has evolved into my energy style. Building layers of complexity into my art, and sometimes hiding little surprises, I get my inspiration from nature and all the amazing life around me.
Using words to describe a visual medium tells only part of the story... please visit my online galleries to experience the overall effect of my energy style artwork.
Caption: The Artist and His Subject… on a 2016 trip to Florida, Jim was honored to meet Rocke, the subject of his Rocke’s Garden painting. Rocke's humans, who are art patrons and animal lovers, commissioned Jim in 2014 to create this piece, using several photos of Rocke as source material. The painting is shown hanging behind Rocke and Jim in this photo. For a closer look at this painting, please visit Animals & People & More and scroll partway down the page.
BIOGRAPHY
Jim can't remember when painting wasn't a part of his life. As a child, he was encouraged to paint by his grandmother, also an artist, who noticed his drawings and gave him a box of oil paints. At age 10, he was selected by his grade school art teacher to attend extracurricular painting classes at Carnegie Institute in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Jim continued to study art throughout school, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Wittenberg University. His college art major included a concentration in graphic design to address his future financial needs, and painting courses to satisfy his artistic needs.
Living in Pittsburgh after graduation, Jim worked for several ad agencies as an art director, illustrator, and graphic designer, plus he sold commissioned paintings to individuals and companies. Moving to the Ann Arbor area, he worked for a local ad agency for six years until he and his business partner established Rehlin Graphics / Creative Services agency, which provided graphic design, illustration, writing, research, and editing for 20+ years to SE Michigan clients including ad agencies, companies, and the University of Michigan. In spare time, Jim continued to paint and draw, occasionally selling his art to companies and individuals.
In 2014, Jim refocused full-time to fine art and is pleased to be displaying and selling his work via local and national exhibitions, galleries, art fairs, and commissions. He has also been presented with various awards for his art and affiliated with several organizations including the Ann Arbor Art Center and the Chelsea Painters group.
Please note: Rehlin Graphics transitioned from creative services to the fine art field in 2014, but if you're interested in details about Jim's career as a graphic designer and illustrator, please visit his artist's Facebook page, where you can view thumbnails of a selection of the agency's creative services projects for its former clients. To locate the archived client albums, please visit the Photos & Albums section.
Caption: Jim, with his Winter Pine / Full Moon framed acrylic-on-canvas painting, which sold in December 2015 at the Ann Arbor Art Center's Holiday Gallery Shop.
Jim can't remember when painting wasn't a part of his life. As a child, he was encouraged to paint by his grandmother, also an artist, who noticed his drawings and gave him a box of oil paints. At age 10, he was selected by his grade school art teacher to attend extracurricular painting classes at Carnegie Institute in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Jim continued to study art throughout school, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Wittenberg University. His college art major included a concentration in graphic design to address his future financial needs, and painting courses to satisfy his artistic needs.
Living in Pittsburgh after graduation, Jim worked for several ad agencies as an art director, illustrator, and graphic designer, plus he sold commissioned paintings to individuals and companies. Moving to the Ann Arbor area, he worked for a local ad agency for six years until he and his business partner established Rehlin Graphics / Creative Services agency, which provided graphic design, illustration, writing, research, and editing for 20+ years to SE Michigan clients including ad agencies, companies, and the University of Michigan. In spare time, Jim continued to paint and draw, occasionally selling his art to companies and individuals.
In 2014, Jim refocused full-time to fine art and is pleased to be displaying and selling his work via local and national exhibitions, galleries, art fairs, and commissions. He has also been presented with various awards for his art and affiliated with several organizations including the Ann Arbor Art Center and the Chelsea Painters group.
Please note: Rehlin Graphics transitioned from creative services to the fine art field in 2014, but if you're interested in details about Jim's career as a graphic designer and illustrator, please visit his artist's Facebook page, where you can view thumbnails of a selection of the agency's creative services projects for its former clients. To locate the archived client albums, please visit the Photos & Albums section.
Caption: Jim, with his Winter Pine / Full Moon framed acrylic-on-canvas painting, which sold in December 2015 at the Ann Arbor Art Center's Holiday Gallery Shop.
