Since 1969, Jim has painted extensively, both in his home area of Jackson Hole and in many places throughout the world. Through his art career, he has been able to both live in and visit his favorite place and call it work to express in paint the beauty that surrounds him. In 1987, he was awarded the coveted Prix de West Award at the National Academy of Western Art Show - an award that changed his life. He also won the prestigious Remington award from the same show in 2002 and again in 2007.

In 1994, Arts for the Parks bestowed their top award on him with its accompanying $50,000 grand prize. He took away a record seven different awards while he participated in that show between 1987 and 2002.

Among other awards Jim received the William Weiss Award and the Artists' Choice Award on two occasions from the Buffalo Bill Show and a People's Choice Award and 3 Awards of Merit from the Western Rendezvous of Art.

In February 2013, he was awarded the Masters of the American West Purchase Award at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles. In 2014 Jim was the honored artist at the Buffalo Bill Museum Art Show, and this year, 2015, he was also chosen for the Wyoming Governors Art Award for outstanding contributions in the art world.

Jim continues to be fascinated by light, which he has always considered to be his primary subject, regardless of what it enhances. Though realistic in his painting technique, the beautiful abstract patterns that he finds in nature continue to be an important part of his work. The changing qualities of light and abstract patterns combine with bold, painterly brush work to be a part of his unique vision of the world - the world as seen through the eyes of an artist.