“from the mundane to the sublime”
-Jim Phillips, Louisiana Folk Artist and Photographer
I’m Jim Phillips, a folk artist living and creating in the countryside of St. Landry Parish, LA. My art encompasses a wide range of forms, including sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, architectural design, and digital art. I strive to build an engaging, culturally rich, and artistic world right here where I live, shaping a picture of a peaceful and harmonious world full of diversity and fun.
Portraiture has played a significant role in my artistic journey and I have most often created portraits of individuals that reflect my life travels and personal relationships along the way. I also work in photography and find that the camera is more than a tool for capturing moments; it’s a catalyst for personal transformation and it facilitates meaningful, soulful experiences. Through photography, I have created a unique Mandala technique where I strive to transform everyday images into contemplative, meditative mandalas. I amplify an image’s “visual weight”, enhancing its impact on the viewer by magnifying elements such as shape, form, texture, color, size, and depth. In my many years of working with film, this technique has evolved to digital and this advancement has enabled me to create with precision, diversification and speed.
My folk art prints are a celebration of worldwide culture, nature, color, and design. I mix old-style methods with new technology, using watercolor, charcoal, acrylics, digital editing, photography, and physical construction to create cheerful, uplifting pieces. My folk art is a celebration of diversity, a whimsical platform for expressing humor, pride and identity of self and of community.