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Hello

My name is Jim Henke and I am a retired educator and amateur painter primarily  in pastel.  While at one point I had gallery representation with Uptown Gallery in Holland, the Covid crisis and the gallery relocation put an end to that and since then I have been looking  for opportunities to exhibit.  The Great Lakes Pastel Society is my main art organization.

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My Story

     Fine Art is my second career.  After receiving an M.F.A. in Stage Design from Florida State University I taught theatre at Millersville University of Pennsylvania for 30 years.  I designed scenery and lighting for university productions and did free lance design work in the near vicinity.  As my academic career drew to a close I began to be interested in pastel painting, perhaps because its similarity to drawing.  My father was a graphic artist and weekend painter so I was familiar with many art materials.  I also experimented with acrylic and oil. 

     After achieving some success in local art shows I decided to retire from teaching and return to my home state of Michigan where I was inspired to create landscapes based upon the local scenery.  I also paint still life in primarily in pastel.  After joining the Great Lakes Pastel Society I held several positions on the board including exhibitions, vice president and president for two years.  While I have attended workshops with well known pastel artists, I am largely self taught.

Contact

I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.

616-610-3194

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