Artist. Maker. Collector of rusty bits.

Creating art is my passion. Sharing ideas is my profession. To inspire is my mission.

For nearly twenty years collage has been the lens through which I see the world. It was how I shaped my views and expressed my voice. In that time, my definition of collage has gotten a little hazy. When I was twelve my mom went back to school for Graphic Design. We got a Mac and this thing called Photoshop in the house, and it was game over for me. Until then, I had been drawing monsters on lined paper at school when they tell me I should have been paying attention. My monsters would evolve from page to page. I called it Monster Days. Their survival mechanisms were put to test by tiny army men, helicopters, and tanks shooting dotted lines. Some monsters learned to fly. Some grew bigger teeth or two heads or twenty. I was designing. I was iterating. I was having fun, but suddenly I had a ctrl + z, and a file > save as at my command.

Digital art had opened the door to a creative outlet previously closed to me. The ability to take a photograph and tweak it, blend it, destroy it was utterly appealing. I poured over books (Scott Kelby's mostly) and online tutorials learning new techniques to apply them to my own art, that sometimes I affectionately refer to as shart.

A friend, who I can't remember a time that I didn't know him as such, was also interested in art and game design signed up to go to our local tech school, Gloucester County Institute of Technology, for graphic arts our last two years of school. I asked what the class involved. "You'd be all about this" he said. He was right. I was.

Going from an environment where I was bound to a desk feeling left behind and left out to one that valued creativity and was working towards an end goal greater than a piece of paper and throwing a funny hat into the air was incredible. It was one of those times where you feel yourself shift course and end up exactly where you belong at that moment.

At GCIT was when I met one of the greatest teachers ever. I know a lot of people say that about some teacher or another, but they would be wrong. I knew I loved technology, and I loved art, but it wasn't until seeing the passion that this teacher had for sharing his lifetime of knowledge gained in the world of printing, and the world in general, that I developed a complete admiration for the craft of teaching. Teachers, and a couple in particular, are why I do what I do today. And not all teachers work in a classroom. Also, Graf Comm. Enough said for a few of you :)

After GCIT, I attended Antonelli Institute. A small photography and art school outside of Philadelphia. My graduating class was something like 42 people. Antonelli had more of the studio based classroom environments I seem to thrive in. All of our projects were with the end goal of producing a portfolio. This made sense to me. One teacher in particular there noticed me, and really took an interest in challenging me. I was helping with designs for the school and teaching other
students in his class almost immediately. To this day we are still friends, and I am honored to say I was the best man in his wedding a couple years back. Our friendship and shared interest in all things worn and grungey has done more for my art, professionalism, and dedication than any classroom by far. Thanks you.

Currently, I am back in school myself for art education. The passion to teach and spread knowledge was bestowed to me by those teachers I looked up to growing up. For the last 10 or so years I have been working as a graphic designer, but now my focus is much more on learning and teaching.

My "day job" now is that of Maker in Residence at a local public library's Maker Space where I teach 3D Printing, STEAM based classes, and facilitate self-directed learning within patrons. I found out about the MakerStudio@GCLS from my dad who was reading the newspaper, and saw an article that the library had gotten a 3d printer. He knew I was really interested in this, but didn't have the means of purchasing my own yet. I was in luck, and knew the librarian, in the article. We were both volunteers with The FAF Coalition in Woodbury, NJ and happened to have a meeting that night. I basically blurted out, "Dude, let me get on that 3D Printer!" He did. Thankfully.

My first project was printing an Usonian inspired home I modeled. I recently decided that despite not having a degree to teach, or any real qualifications besides my enthusiasm, I would get a job teaching at a arts and tech based Summer camp program. That weekend was when I would have my first face to face meeting with the company, Black Rocket LLC, to present a sample lesson. I really wanted to blow them away. I did. The library let me print this house the next day, and when I showed it around it was the first 3D printed thing almost everyone I knew had seen. That was so cool to me. I was on my way of becoming a modern day troubadour for 3D printing and emerging technology.

I would love to do more than I am capable of doing just through the MakerStudio. If you enjoy my work, attended a show, been given a piece of art, please considering helping me bring more of it into the world. Having the financial backing to be able to purchase new equipment, software, art supplies, and coffee would not only allow me to take my passion to the next level, but also to connect more closely with those of you already supporting me with your love.

Thank you very much for reading (it's okay if you skipped to the end), and all of the support you have shown.

~Jim