Jim Stevens

Jim Stevens first began artwork as a child, when he snuck into his Grandmother's commercial artist studio, and "borrowed" a piece of charcoal and sketching paper.  She caught him, but instead of being angry, she taught him how to draw.  Years later, Jim had the opportunity to study with American master sculptor Ed Dwight.  Jim assisted Dwight with his 12-foot high bronze statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,  that now stands outside Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.  Dwight’s work inspired Jim to devote more practical time to art. That made Jim’s mother happy, as she had always wanted him to be an artist. After years of concentrating on scrimshaw, Jim earned many commissions, selling to private collectors around the country, as well as gallery showings in Massachusetts, Maryland and Michigan.  Eventually, Russian-immigrant, master miniature stone & gem carver Vasily Konovalenko saw Jim’s scrimwork, and invited Jim to study with him. Unfortunately, their time together was cut short by Konovalenko’s untimely death. Many years earlier, while a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) leader in Vietnam, Jim was shot in the head during a combat mission.  The wound resulted in severe migraine headaches, which still endure to this day.  Then, in 1994, Jim suffered a migraine & stroke, which permanently resulted in a vastly reduced field of vision.  With only a pinpoint of eyesight remaining, Jim was unable to continue teaching at the University of Colorado, and also lost the confidence to continue with his art.  Jim was so angry at that time, that he destroyed many unfinished pieces and most of his notes, drafts, & records. It took many years for Jim to accept being legally blind. In 2000, Jim began to slowly produce scrimshaw art again. At first, only for friends & family as gifts, but the more scrimwork completed, the more he felt possible to do.  Jim kept working and re-learning the craft, albeit without the eyesight an artist so desperately needs.  It has been a long process, but Jim finally re-mastered scrimshander skills.  Now, using a variety of special lenses, the artistry and quality are finally there again.  After years without art, Jim is once again dong what he loves. Outside of his scrimshaw art, Jim enjoys his children, his writing, and his continued study of the martial arts.  In 2002, he became the only legally blind man to ever win the men's fighting competition at the Rocky Mountain Martial Arts "Tournament of Champions."  In 2004, Jim achieved the rank of Shodan - a Shaolin black belt. Jim is the scrimshaw instructor for the NRA Gunsmithing School at Trinidad State College, and the Master Scrimshaw Craftsman for Fenton Jewelry of NYC. He is also known for his museum quality scrimshaw & ivory restoration work, and his beautifully hand-carved ivory handles & grips for knives, swords, & pistols. Jim can be reached by phone at 303-234-1946, & via e-mail at Stevens@ScrimshawStudio.com His website is www.ScrimshawStudio.com

Jim’s NEW 176-page book on "how to do scrimshaw", entitled Scrimshaw Techniques published by Schiffer Books, has been hailed as the "The most complete technical and aesthetic book ever written in the field."

Book available at: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble Schiffer Books

Jim Stevens carves, as well as scribes onto whale teeth, fossil walrus tusks, elephant, mammoth, and mastadon ivories. Much of his scrimwork is stipple technique, and he is well versed in polychrome inks.

This 5.5-inch x 3.5-inch stipple-scrimshawed Mammoth tusk section is entitled Tiger, and won First Place at the Louisville Art Association 2003 Art Challenge Show, which is open to all art styles, including oils, watercolors, sculpture, mixed media, etc.

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