Jim Martin

Art is alchemy in metal.

Jim Martin, 33 year old sculptor of Santa Barbara, California works magic in metal. Combining the archaic, the classical and the modern, Martins work seems to reflect the mysterious connectedness in life. His pieces are reminders of the exquisite place of honor we hold as conscious beings in a world balanced between the real and the spiritual. Among his vocabulary of forms are references to antique coins, primitive shields and axes as well as classical bowls and vessels. Bringing these ancient motifs together Martin presents a body of graceful almost minimalist body of sculpture which echoes our collective past experience. These distinctive and elegant forms are made with the meticulousness and precision usually reserved for fine jewelry. While patinated bronze, mild and stainless steels and more exotic metals such as Monelle, are Martin's primary materials, he isn't entirely loyal to the medium of metal. He spent many of his early artmaking years devoted to stone carving,exhibiting his natural affinity for the material in marble, limestone, granite and alabaster. Marble and limestone still make cameo appearances in Martin's work, most often combined with bronze or steel. A new addition to the artists growing palette is black and white photography, which he pursues with the same precise and critical eye which he uses to design his sculptures. Always experimenting and challenging himself to keep his work evolving, Martin is currently exploring incorporating oil painting into his mixed media work. Martin warns with a laugh that it will be many years down the road as he learns to master yet another medium. With an artist of such obvious talent, the results are sure to be worth waiting for.