JIM KOSVANEC Artist & Illustrator

Jim Kosvanec was born in Lincoln, Rhode Island and raised in Kennebunk, Maine. Art was his passion from a very young age. By ten, he was enrolled in weekend adult classes for figure drawing and oil painting at Rhode Island School of Design, and in later years, attended Butera School of Art, Rochester Institute of Technology and the American Academy of Art.

About ten years ago, he returned to the United States after residing in the tranquil artist's community of San Miguel de Allende, in central Mexico for thirteen years. His home and studio is in the charming seaside town of Morro Bay in south-central California, where he again found an environment that provides the perfect platform for introspection and creativity.

Three and a half years of color theory studies lead Jim to develop a revolutionary new color theory system that had never been discovered until he authored his successful book. He was an international watercolor workshop instructor, video instruction producer and international judge of art and has also served as a board member of the National Watercolor Society and the Central Coast Watercolor Society. Jim has won numerous awards in national watercolor competitions, and is a Signature-Elected Member of the National
Watercolor Association, and an Honorary Member of the California Watercolor Association.

Jim's migration into giclée printing followed the events of 9/11. Art sales and teaching withered and Jim expanded his experience in giclée printing of his own works over the past decade to include the works of other artists and commercial clients, including the work of Leonard Filgate. His knowledge of color and dedication to accurate reproductions was to his benefit in starting Giclée by the Bay, but essentially closed the door to working full time as an artist - until now, that is.

As his giclée business grows, his responsibilities are shared and business efficiency increases, Jim is finding room for art once again. Jim says, "Developing a painting of the Rip Squeak characters is fictional fun at its best. Scenarios flip through my mind one after another. I only wish there was some way to download them! Quick sketches or notes help, but ultimately, there's not enough years in a lifetime to paint them all. Meanwhile, I'll be satisfied with one canvas at a time."

Jim will be working closely with the rest of the Rip Squeak® team to create artwork for future Rip Squeak and Friends^TM books and other ventures.

LEE COHEN || JULIA HARNETT HARVEY || CHRIS HOPKINS || ANTHONY LOSCHIAVO || JIM KOSVANEC || LOYAL DE NEUVILLE