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| Artist Bio James H. Fullmer (or Jay to his friends) was born in the Madison, Wisconsin area. However, he spent many of his early years over-seas. When he was seven his family settled, for a while, on a small farm outside of Reeseville, WI. "It had 25 acres of forest, a tiny pond and a wistful stream carving through it. What more could a young boy ask for? That setting was the foundation of my ever-growing love of nature, and that is where I learned to draw." Jay attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a major in Biology. During Jay's years at school he pursued his art by taking commissions for scientific illlustration as well as many other projects for the Biology Department. In 1993, Jay summoned up the courage to pursue a full-time art career. He attended a workshop in Colorado Springs, CO presented by master wildlife artist John Seerey-Lester. Also present at the workshop, as instructors, were Alan Hunt and Carl Brenders. After only a week with these artists, Jay was chosen, out of 80 artists to be awarded the John Seerey-Lester Scholarship-the youngest ever to receive this honor. Since then, Jay has traveled with John and Alan to the rainforests of Guatemala. There are many artists that inspire Jay (besides those previously mentioned) including Bob Kuhn and George McLean, but none more so than Robert Bateman. "It's his use of abstract design in his compositions, his sense of mood and his ability to show us the majesty in even the smallest and most common of God's creations." - Jay. An avid naturalist, Jay has donated his time and art to help nature centers, wildlife rehabilitation facilities and has put on programs for school groups. He has recieved special recognition for art donated to help the National Red Siskin Project. In 1996, Jay attended his first art festival and was asked to return the following year as the featured artist for the Mosquito Hill Nature Center in New London, Wisconsin. In November, 1996, Jay participated in a two person show with Wild Wings' Susan Bourdet at Foxfire Gallery in Appleton, WI. He called it, "an incredible experience." "She was so delightful and inspiring. She's based in Oregon, and it got my wife and I thinking about a change of scenery." A year later, Jay up and moved his young family to Springfield Oregon, where they lived for four years. During that time Jay had some amazing experiences, not the least of which was the opportunity to show with some of the top artists in the area (and the country) including - Terry Isaac and Rod Fredrick. In the fall of 2001, Jay was offered a great job opportunity to work in a studio with seven other artists at an international interiors company called Interior Systems Inc. in Fond du Lac, WI. He currently lives in Fond du Lac, with his wonderful wife, four strapping boys and a parrot.
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