Jim Conaway

I guess the icon above pretty much describes life as any type of creative person, especially a free lancer or a fine art painter.

Always a balancing act, with us trying to juggle assignments- deadlines- styles- techniques- hopes - dreams- and of course, the realities of everyday life that have nothing whatsoever to do with art or creativity.

I have been balancing a long time.

I graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Fine Art which gave me no practical knowledge of the Commercial Art field I was about to enter.

I went to work for American Greetings Cards which gave me a knowledge of illustration and painting, and while there, I worked with some of America's best fine artists who also taught me freedom of style and technique.

Then I worked for a newspaper and learned about tight deadlines, design, and the 'wonders' of black and white illustration and managed to win a couple of awards along the way.

Eventually I made it to Editorial Art Director and learned how to direct the ideas and concepts of others.

Now, I am learning to juggle all that I have learned as a free lancer and painter.