The Rickie Report received a phone call from Jim McCann who wondered if we might be interested in seeing his art work.  We sent a reporter and photographer to meet Jim and Donna but had no idea from his description, what a treasure was waiting to be seen! At our urging, Jim applied to ArtiGras as an “Emerging Artist” and he was accepted!  The Rickie Report wants to celebrate Jim’s artistry and knows you will be astonished at what he is making! Stop by his booth at ArtiGras and consider how many places in your home, one of his copper torch and ink paintings belong.

ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival

February 16-18

Abacoa Town Center,  Jupiter, FL

Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 6 pm

Monday 10 am – 4 pm

A former welding instructor, Jim has developed his own technique to create amazing art pieces on copper.  Having no formal art training, he used to draw Spanish Galleons and comics from “Mad Magazine” as a child.  Now he makes the copper look like the wood of those great ships, using his self-developed chemical and torch techniques.  The combinations of wood grains and patinas are limitless.  And wait until you see the stone effect he’s developed!  What a dramatic back splash in a kitchen his work would make.

Jim is drawn to nature and is exacting when he creates a Piper or a Loggerhead.   The prismatic blues and reds jump from the copper as the sunshine changes the colorations.  Jim sometimes hand engraves areas to give even more richness to the patinas.  Right now he uses his own kitchen but is purchasing a pizza oven so he can work in larger sizes.

Loggerhead Turtle for Shower Ceiling

Walking around his yard, filled with different species of palm treees, a wild male peacock announced itself and then appeared.  It was easy to see where Jim gets his inspiration for color and detail.   His loggerhead turtle is almost finished and ready to be placed on the ceiling of his shower.  He pointed out his plans for a mermaid sitting on some rocks for over the tub and will eventually decide between one of two different fish designs for over the sink.

Jim’s workshop is filled with potential projects.  And he keeps a small space for his reference library.  His work is precise and drawn to scale, whether he is working on a bird or a fish.  The rain did not deter from his work, though we would have seen more brilliance of color on a sunnier day.

The Rickie Report is honored to continue to advise Jim on the next steps to further his hobby.  To contact Jim, call:  561-313-9296.  For more information about ArtiGras: www.artigras.org

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact The Rickie Report at:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

The Rickie Report

P.O.Box 33423

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420

Rickie@therickiereport.com

561-537-0291