James F. Hodgson was born in Alberta, Canada in 1956 and grew up in Santa Barbara, California. Jim began his love of bird watching at age eleven when he went on his first Audubon bird watching trip. He later began sketching and painting birds and wildlife as part his lifelong study of birds, reptiles and mammals.
Jim’s successful career as a mechanical designer in the engineering field has honed his illustrative technique. His precision and attention to detail is reflected in his unique painting style, which combines accurate detail with muted abstract backgrounds.
He spends countless hours in the field drawing inspiration from actual experiences and encounters with his subjects. Jim uses field notes, sketches and his own photography to compose his pieces in the studio. Careful attention is given to the authenticity of habitat and anatomy of his subjects.
Jim believes it’s imperative that we protect our remaining wild lands and habitats to ensure rich biodiversity and ecological health of the planet. “It would be such a loss for future generations to not know the beauty of these creatures.” He hopes his paintings will help the viewer appreciate how much is at stake and motivate them to protect our environment.
Jim is a self-taught painter and works primarily in oil on hand-stretched linen canvas and custom frames each piece. He never compromises on the quality of materials to ensure his paintings will be around for hundreds of years. Jim’s paintings hang in private homes and collections throughout the Western United States and Canada.