We were lucky to catch up with Jim Hallenbeck recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jim, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I remember drawing the Peanuts characters at an early age. From that moment I became interested in pursuing a career as an artist. I was the art editor for my high school yearbook although my school did not have a meaningful art class. The decision was made to be a fine arts major as I began my studies at SUNY Plattsburgh in 1974. Up to this point my art was pencil and charcoal drawing – this was the first time I painted with oils and canvas. I was fascinated with the brightness and array of colors one could bring to the palette. The experience punctuated my desire to be an artist. After three years in the winter cold and the reality of having to make a living, I decided to switch gears. In 1977, I transferred to Florida International University in Miami and became an art education major. The life plan was set. I would teach K-12 while pursuing a masters in fine arts. Once I was confident I could earn a living I would once again switch gears and fulfill my dream of being a full-time artist.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Life changes your desired plans. I was working as a supplemental employee at IBM from September to December 1979 as I finished my 3 final hours to obtain my B.S. in Art Education from FIU. Graduating in December made finding a teaching job a bit more challenging and at the same time IBM offered me a full-time position. I started my IBM career as a packer / shipper at the lowest non-exempt level. My career aspirations changed and I focused my efforts on becoming a first line manager. After 4 years, I did become a manager leading a group of 15 people. There was a connection between teaching and managing that I immediately felt. And while an art education major may be perceived as “a fish out of water” the techniques and skills I developed as a teacher made me a successful manager. I rose through the ranks at IBM and retired in 2014 as a Vice President of Supply Chain Operations. I am very proud of my IBM career and was often assigned to difficult assignments to “fix” things and get a specific unit back on track. At one point, I managed close to 3,000 employees all over the globe. Over the course of 35 years, I think I did 5 paintings but that burning desire to be an artist never left me. I knew that once I retired, I would dedicate myself to being an artist, an oil painter. However, going about this was quite the endeavor. I had the brushes, paint, and canvas but what next? How do I regain those skills, improve these skills, expand my knowledge of painting, show and potentially sell my art? It was a tall task. I set my sights on becoming a studio artist at Artspace in downtown Raleigh. Artspace is a non-profit that houses about 35 artists where you can work your craft, talk with other artists, and exhibit / sell your work. So in the spring of 2015 I called Artspace and the creative director, Annah Lee, came to my house and we discussed “the plan”. She gave me a great piece of advice which was to seek out other artists and see if there were time(s) when you could paint along with other artists. I did that at Nicole’s studio (Nicole Kennedy – signature member of the American Impressionist Society). The group met every Wednesday and from there discussions about taking workshops from accomplished artists would formulate. My next task to to take workshops which I did with 2 master painters but I still did not find the one. Everything changed in 2016 as I took a 4 day workshop with the master Albert Handell. From that moment, everything changed as I gravitated to Albert’s style and to the man himself. Albert came back to North Carolina in 2016 and he suggested I come to one of his workshops in his studio in Santa Fe – these were limited to 4 – 5 people. In 2017, I became a studio artist at 311 Gallery in Raleigh. I was now exhibiting and selling my work, however, my sights were still on Artspace. I continued to take workshops with Albert and he has become my mentor and we are great friends. At Albert’s urging I started using soft pastels in 2020. And in July 2020, I applied and was juried into Artspace as a studio artist. In April 2024 I will take my 13th workshop with Albert Handell. It will also be the second consecutive year that I coordinated his Raleigh workshop at Artspace….and have the pleasure of housing my friend. I am most proud of never giving up my dream of being an artist, a painter. Entering my ninth year as an artist, I continue to develop my skills and hopefully become a better artist. My work is primarily landscapes and urban architecture. I have been juried into over 60 exhibitions and won over 10 awards. In 2023, I have been juried into the American Impressionist Society’s national exhibition once, the Oil Painters of America’s Salon Show once, and the American Artists Professional League’s Grand National Exhibition twice. In 2023, I became a signature member of the Pastel Society of North Carolina. At the end of 2023, I sold my 150th painting. And while this recognition is nice and perhaps validating, it’s second to how my art resonates with the viewer. I’ll give you an example. On February 2, 2024 four people came into my studio. It was a mother and father along with their daughter and her fiancé. The parents were looking to purchase a painting as a gift for the couple which were moving into their first dwelling together. They wanted to buy my painting of a waterfall in Tennessee. That scene reminded them of one of their first hiking trips which was in Tennessee. The painting brought them back to a wonderful memory and now it has a permanent place in their new home. The experience reminded me why I paint – the process and how it affects you.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Universities and colleges should ensure that fine arts majors have art business related classes. You’re going to be an artist and you’re an excellent artist but what’s next? How do you navigate the art world? What resources are out there to help you? How do you make connections to show and sell your art – you need to make a sustainable living! How do you find out about local foundations that support arts and what do they offer – grants, exhibition opportunities, etc.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I believe I did this already. I moved off my aspiration of becoming an artist at 23 years old when I “settled” for a career with IBM. That career lasted 35 years and along with a family barely afforded the time to paint. In fact, I did 5 paintings over the course of 35 years and, quite frankly, unlearned everything. That said, I knew once I retired I would rededicate myself to becoming an artist. I was fortunate enough to retire at 58 and thus began the road back to art. Starting out from scratch, touching canvas again, finding a group, securing a spot as a studio artist, and finding my teacher and mentor has brought me to where I am today as an artist. I believe I improve with every painting and I never stop learning – it’s an exciting time. Of course, my artistic journey would not have been possible if not for the support and encouragement from my wife (and critic) Lisa.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jimhallenbeckfineart.com
- Instagram: @jimhallenbeckjr
Image Credits
My own photos