Jim has been carving birds since 1992, concentrating mainly on birds of prey. He prefers to carve what is referred to as decorative style and has won numerous awards, including First in Category, First in Division, and Best in Show, in the prestigious Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition in Ocean City, MD.

The inspiration to do a particular piece usually comes from countless hours observing the subject in the wild. Great attention is paid to accuracy, as well as artistic presentation and each piece is a one of a kind, unique, work of art.

This is also true of his new line of carved wooden feather jewelry. Each feather is created using the same detailed process used on the larger carvings and is signed and dated on the back. He uses Tupelo Gum wood, from the bayous of Louisiana which allows him to carve the intricate detail, which is required to achieve the realism he demands in his art. Each miniature carving goes through a ten step process in preparation for painting after which the pieces typically get 10 to 15 translucent wash coats of acrylic paint to build depth and realism in the finish. Offering these miniature carvings allows people to enjoy his art in a wearable form. Jim can create custom jewelry based on any bird for which he has reference material.

He continues to advance his skills by competing at regional, national, and international competitions and by studying with some of the top carvers in the world.