ASV Monthly Meeting 10th March 2010: Illustrated talk by Jim Howson:

Another enjoyable, relaxing evening in good company. Jim Howson kindly came from Geelong to tell us about his journey in sculpture.

Jim comes from an artistic family of potters and painters but did not initially pursue a career in art and instead chose farming as his career as he was attracted to the outback. He left school and went to Western Australia where he worked with the aborigines on a station then worked on sheep and cattle stations in NSW and SA. Eventually returning to Victoria where he managed a farm for 10 years on behalf of a Melbourne business man.
During that time his passion for art, became quite prominent. He turned his skills to making fine furniture but found his real passion was sculpture. A welder by trade, steel was the perfect medium. It was difficult to focus on his art and farming at the same time and so it was a very easy decision to retire from farming to consolidate his desire to sculpt. He then moved to Geelong with his wife to be and has never looked back.
As he began his art journey, Jim has created a style that represents a unique blend of three dimensional and skeletal appearance that draws out the essential qualities of steel producing an effect of changeable rhythms and free movement which is reinforced from different viewpoints.

He makes maquettes with 10mm square bar and then makes them to scale. Any components that he is unable to make, he gets made externally. Last year Jim’s work was quite large using large pipe work as a focal work, with flowing coils wrapped around to give a sense of movement. Jim is now experimenting with smaller pieces and has most recently completed a Seed Pod series.

Entering sculpture prizes has proved a great experience and learning for Jim and it was when he was participating at Wangaratta Current Sculpture Prize, that he met John Wooller who introduced him to the Association of Sculptors. This has been an advantage to both Jim and the Association as it has given him a different perspective on sculpture, seen a variety of work and met other artists. He has won prizes and sold several pieces. We as an association have enjoyed his presence and his work and thank him for talking to us about his journey.