Jim Schwartz :: Artist/Sculptor

Born in 1944, Sacramento California. Formative years spent in Sacramento / San Joaquin Valley. 1961 Enrolled in to U.S. Army - train in Artillery / Rockets (nuclear weapons warhead specialist) - stationed in Vicenza, Italy for 2 1/2 years. Honorably discharged in 1964.

Returned to California and renewed contact with artistic pursuits in and out of academic settings. Joined various elements of the work force around California for 3 years and decided to pursue art as a full time career.

Moved to Canada in 1967 - Montreal, Quebec Enrolled into Montreal Museum School of Fine Art 1969 Relocated to Vancouver British Columbia and shortly after moved up coast to Sechelt where he opened his first Dream Studio carving local varieties of stone as well as working in different industries: construction, commercial fishing, fabrication, sign paintings, graphic design, sales and welding.

Awarded Canada Council Bursary for Stone Sculpture in 1970 and scaled down to precious metal work; Silversmithing, lost wax casting, custom jewelry design and cloisonné enameling.

1976 reside in Tofino, British Columbia and built a second Dream Studio where he perfected the process of combining lost wax casting with enameling. He scaled up acquiring the necessary skills and experience of metallurgy, fitting, welding, fabricating, layout and structural design in order to create large metal sculpture.

1987 attended Sculptors Institute of Capilano Collage in Vancouver to study with David Marshall.

1993 went to Italy to investigate Pietrasanta as a possible source of Sculpture Foundries for creating experimental Bronze Sculptures.

Return to Pietrasanta to study marble carving and sculpture techniques and worked under Cesare Riva and Pasquale Martini at the Pietrasanta Marble Carving Studio - Viale Apua #13 and since 1996 to carve independently.

Jim's art experience has taken him in to many locations: Italy, Colorado, California, Washington, New Mexico, Tofino British Columbia and allowed him to create in a wide range of media besides rock; Chinese Landscape painting, acrylic on canvas, water colour, cloisonné enameling, fabrication and lost wax casting of gold and silver jewelry, sculpture in welded aluminum and steel, cast bronze and is now carving in stone using marble, chlorite, alabaster, limestone, basalt and sandstone.

"Cult Objects" is the current theme in a series of marble pieces underway in the workshop except for those that reside with private collectors or on loan. The next studio in progress is the Colorado Mountain Studio where some works are available for viewing by appointment only.

Please visit Jim's online
Slide Show - Gallery