ARTS INSTITUTE GROUP of the Merrimack Valley, Inc.

A Fine Connection to the ARTS!

Artist of the Month

October 2006

Jim Collins

Wildlife Art

37 Harriman Road, Plaistow, NH 03865

I am a self-taught artist who has been painting since 1989. I turned professional in 1992 and started my career as a full time artist. I paint any subject, but my expertise is animals and wildlife in their natural habitat. I spend many hours studying and photographing wildlife to make my art as realistic as nature intended it to be. I try to paint wildlife as it really is so that people can see through my paintbrush what they may never have a chance to see for themselves.

We are losing open space and wildlife habitat so rapidly that I hope it never comes to be that this is one of the only ways people will have to experience all that nature has to offer. To take the time to sit and watch Otters swim, play and fish, or a Bluebird pair building a nest and then tending their young or even a pair of Canada geese tending their goslings is just an amazing thing to see. I hope that my art will inspire more people to take a closer look at what is right in their own back yards.

I have many original paintings and limited edition fine art prints available. I also do any type of commission work, in both acrylic and oil.

Accomplishments to date:

1991 1st runner up State of Indiana Trout Stamp contest. (1991-1992 calendar)

1992 Honorable Mention State of New Hampshire Discover Wild Art competition (Partners in Flight) 1993 Runner up 1994 West Virginia Dept. of Natural Resources calendar art contest

1993 Runner up State of Indiana Wildlife Art calendar contest. (1993-1994 calendar)

1993 Winner State of Indiana Wildlife Art calendar contest. (cover of 1994-1995 calendar)

1993 Best in Show, Deerfield Fair

1993 3rd place New England Woodcarving and Wildlife Art Expo, Cromwell, CT

1993 Federal Duck Stamp contest; among the top 128 entries

1994 3rd place and Honorable Mention, Massachusetts Audubon Society second annual juried Wildlife Art show

1994 1st runner up Grand National Art contest National Wild Turkey Federation

1994 Honorable Mention 1995 State of Kentucky Trout Stamp competition

1994 Runner up 1995 State of West Virginia Dept. of Natural Resources calendar art contest

1994 Winner, 1995 State of New Jersey Trout Stamp contest

1994 Best in Show, Best in Class, two 1st place New England Woodcarving and Wildlife Art Expo., Cromwell Ct

1994 3rd place Florida Dept. of Fish and Game Duck Stamp contest

1995 Winner, 1997 State of Indiana Trout Stamp competition

1995 Runner up State of Indiana Wildlife Art calendar contest. (1995-1996 calendar)

1995 Honorable Mention Massachusetts Duck Stamp contest

1995 Best in Show, three 1st place, Deerfield Fair

1995 Best in Show, Best in Class 1st place New England Woodcarving and Wildlife Art Expo., Cromwell, CT

1995 Miriam Sawyer Memorial Award for Painting, New Hampshire Art Association, Currier Show

1996 Guest Artist New England Woodcarving and Wildlife Art Expo, Cromwell, CT

1996 Winner 1997 State of West Virginia Wildlife Art Calendar

1997 Winner 1997 State of Vermont Waterfowl Stamp contest

1997 Three Honorable Mentions State of West Virginia 1998 Wildlife Art Calendar

1998 Winner State of New Hampshire 1998 Migratory Waterfowl Stamp

1998 Winner State of New Jersey 1999 Pheasant/Quail Stamp

1999 Designer of the new State of New Hampshire Conservation series number plate

1999 Best in Show Kittery Trading Post Wildlife Art & Carving Show

2000 Best in Show Wildlife Art & Carving Expo

2001 State of New Hampshire Non Game Endangered Species Calendar

2001 Runner up State of Indiana Wildlife Art calendar contest (June, 2003)

2001 Featured Artist 21^st annual Beaver Brook exhibit

2001 Guest Artist Wildlife Art & Carving Expo

2002 Winner State of New Hampshire 2002 Migratory Waterfowl Stamp

2002 Best in Show Wildlife Art & Carving Expo

2002 Best in Show & People’s Choice Deerfield Fair

2003 Best in Show & People’s Choice Greater Haverhill Art Association Annual Spring show

2003 Best in Show Greater Haverhill Art Association Art in the Park

2003 Best in Show Art’s Institute Group “Art at the Library” Fall show

2003 Best in Show Deerfield Fair

2004 Honorable Mention 2005 State of West Virginia Wildlife Art Calendar contest

2004 People’s Choice Greater Haverhill Art Association Annual Spring show

2004 Best in Show and People’s Choice Deerfield Fair 2005 Winner State of New Hampshire 2005 Migratory Waterfowl Stamp

2005 Best in Show Deerfield Fair

2005 Best in Show Arts Institute Group annual “Art at the Library” show

I have won fifteen People’s Choice awards along with many ribbons from local juried shows.

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ARTS INSTITUTE GROUP of the Merrimack Valley, Inc.

A Fine Connection to the ARTS!