Meet Jim W. Hutchinson

Educational Background

• B.A., Pensacola Christian College
• M.F.A., Marywood University

Areas of Teaching at DBU

• Art-Drawing
• Design

Jim W. Hutchinson's Background

Previous Work Experience

Pensacola Christian College, 1989-2007, taught both undergraduate and graduate level courses, Dean of Division of Communicative Arts, A Beka Book Publishing (illustrator); Dayspring Cards, Private Portraiture, and Illustration

Achievements

Published work in A Beka Book Publications; Published work with Dayspring Cards (Christian division of Hallmark); written curriculum used on the college level in the area of Art History.

Teachers and Coaches

Brian Jekel (Society of Illustrators), Joe Bowler (Prestigious Portrait Painter), Peter Fiore (Former President of Society of Illustrators)

Bio

As a high schooler, Jim Hutchinson would pass his time writing and illustrating his own adventures just to entertain his classmates. So, when it came time to choose a college major, illustration was his natural choice. While pursuing his B.A. in commercial art from Pensacola Christian College, he had the opportunity to study under master illustrator, Brian Jekel, painter of over 1,000 biblical illustrations for publication and a major contributor to Dayspring's® nationally known Master Peace calendar collection. Jekel fostered in Jim a love for the classic illustrators and instilled a dedication to the fundamentals.

After college in 1989, Jim became an illustrator/designer for A Beka Book® publications and taught drawing and illustration part time at his alma mater. After 5 years of juggling both, he decided to go into teaching full time and went back to school to earn his Master of Fine Arts degree in the "Master's with the Masters" program at Marywood University in Scranton, PA. During this pursuit, Jim had the opportunity to visit many of the New York artists and was able to study with illustrators such as Peter Fiore, former president of the Society of Illustrators, Gerry Contrares, Fred Brenner, and designers like Steven Brauer of Push Pin Studios. His studies culminated in 1996 with a one man show including over 80 original works.

In 2000, Jim had the opportunity to meet and be critiqued by master portrait painter, Joe Bowler. Since then, they have had a continuing relationship, and Jim credits Joe with helping him to transform his palette, infusing a new vibrancy into his work.

All the while, Jim has spent most of his time teaching painting and illustration on the undergraduate and graduate levels. He has had the opportunity to serve as the chair of the art department and has used his experience to influence hundreds of students. Art history is also a passion for him and his students have especially enjoyed his enthusiastic approach to teaching the history of American Illustration. Meanwhile, he has kept up his painting skills with portrait and illustration commissions; his most recent being a set of 12 floral paintings for a 2007 calendar by Dayspring® cards.

At the age of 89, Michelangelo said: "I regret that I am dying just as I am beginning to understand the alphabet of my trade." This quote has always impacted Jim to never relent in his journey to be a great artist, and he is confident that with God's help he can be exactly that. In the end, he will work hard to meet your need and will strive to give you a product that will keep you coming back for more.