BIOLOGIST
Jim was graduated from the University of California at Fullerton in Biological Sciences with a minor in Art. Science and Art have always been a constant interest for Jim and his desire to seek a career where he could combine both disciplines.

Jim was employed by the US Forest Service for 35 years. Starting as a Biologist he demonstrated his art skill and soon became one of only two Scientific Illustrators in the Forest Service. Jim later became the Creative Services Director for a regional office and was responsible for converting a traditional graphic arts department into a computer-based unit. Jim completed his career with the US Forest Service as Artist-in-residence at Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford. Jim served in that capacity during the 5-year restoration of Grey Towers and retired from the US Forest Service in 2006.

ARTIST
During Jim’s employment with the US Forest Service he free-lanced as an artist and participated in juried shows throughout the Mid-west and East Coast where he won many honors and achieved recognition. He was an active member of the Central Ohio Watercolor Society for a number of years before being transferred to the east coast.

His primary fine art medium is watercolor, pen and ink, graphite, and mixed media. The computer has also an  been added to his tool box as well.

Jim has illustrated a number of books and many publications, contributing regularly to natural science journals and periodicals.

PHOTOGRAPHER
Jim has had a lifelong interest in photography. Jim's photography interests focus on landscape and nature subject matter with and emphasis on artistic composition. Nature macro-photography is a special interest. The view of nature in the macro world is reflected in many of Jim's paintings and illustrations.

Born and raised in California Jim has always had a deep interest in his natural surroundings. He spent his youth in the High Sierra Mountains and the tidal pools along the California coast.

TEACHER
Jim is a natural teacher and has taught drawing and painting classes throughout the years. He has taught both adult  and youth classes, as well as, teaching for the National Wildlife Federation Conservation Summits in Maine, the Adirondacks, Montana, and Colorado. Jim has conducted Nature Journaling Workshops throughout the east coast over the years.

Jim taught children 4-10 years old in Nature Discovery and Journaling at the Community Arts Center (CAC) in Wallingford, PA and conducted Nature Discovery/Journaling Workshops with the Kindergarten Classes at the School in Rose Valley, Rose Valley, PA.

WRITER
An avid birder and hawk watcher, Jim was instrumental in establishing the Rose Tree Park HawkWatch in Media, PA in 1999 where he served as the principle coordinator and compiler for the site through 2009. His interest in bird migration and the weather resulted in several published scientific articles on the subject.

 Being a Bird is not Easy published in Bird Watcher's Digest follows the trials and tribulations of a pair of Carolina Wrens rearing two broods of offspring in the same season. There's More to Birding than Just Birds, another article published in Bird Watcher's Digest, describes the human side of searching for a rare bird in Amish country.  

NEW FRONTIERS
Jim currently resides in Wildomar, California below the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve (SRP) with his wife, Judy. Jim spends much of his time hiking and studying the SRP and has become a Docent at the SRP leading 3rd-grade students on nature hikes. Jim is also exploring the Oak Woodland/Chaparral green space adjacent to their new home which he considers as his extended backyard. .