Jim McVicker imbues atmosphere and light into his paintings that stir the heart. Whether it’s an expansive view of the Pacific coast near his home in Humboldt County, California, or an intimate interior still life set within his studio – his paintings are filled with a sense of solace and peace. Jim began painting full time in the mid-1970s. His early education as a painter began when working closely with artists Curtis Otto, James B. Moore, and George Van Hook. Painting nearly every day together, Jim assimilated what he observed, but developed his own voice. Though his primary joy is in painting representational art, Jim experimented heavily with abstract and non-objective painting for a few years. He says the lessons he learned from that period of experimentation positively influenced his approach to representational painting. Jim values painting outdoors and in the studio. You could say he has two studios – the great outdoors and his home studio. In this episode, Jim encourages us to embrace painting direct from life and to allow ourselves to be taught by nature. Rather than rigorously follow tedious formulas and rules of design, Jim encourages us to trust our intuition as an artist. Jim’s keen use of his artistic eye, mind, and heart have beautifully honed his way of seeing. Mentioned in this episode: Jim McVicker website: https://jimmcvickerpaints.com/ Jim McVicker on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRlfpZgtf3Ya9S_T0iGKvVQ Video: Jim McVicker: A Way of Seeing: https://youtu.be/_Vpgg-Pa4p0 Theresa Oats: https://theresaoatspaintings.blogspot.com Curtis Otto: https://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/curtis-otto-was-a-painter/Content?oid=3398139 George Van Hook: https://georgevanhookfineartist.com Morris Graves: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Graves How Much Water Can You Safely Add to Acrylic Paint? – Just Paint - Golden Artist Colors, Inc.: https://www.justpaint.org/how-much-water-can-you-safely-add-to-acrylic-paint/ A Craftsman’s Legacy: Why Working with Our Hands Gives Us Meaning by Eric Gorges: https://amzn.to/2SCvYEW About the Artful Painter: The Artful Painter website: https://carlolson.tv Donate to support the Artful Painter: https://carlolson.tv/donate Send me an email: https://carlolson.tv/contact Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.creative/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carl.olson.9847 https://www.facebook.com/carlolsontv/ Reading Essentials: https://carlolson.tv/reading-essentials Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo1YmQXnMm21b-Slkr69Tg This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.