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.
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