A Relationship With Nature

Jim Howson was born in England, into an artistic family with many generations of potters and painters. The exposure to art and sculpture has been a prominent part of his life. Jim’s father a potter and two brothers’ successful painters – this environment inspired him to pursue his passion in sculpture and design.

Over the years Jim’s direction has shifted from sculptural furniture to creating elegant forms predominantly using steel. A competent welder with an interest in engineering, machinery and its component parts has in part influenced the form and shape of his work. However his main influence has been nature itself. “There are so many natural forms around us, by absorbing all those fantastic shapes, images are formed and created spontaneously. It is difficult to work out where one shape finishes and another begins.”

The main focus in Jim Howson’s work has been to emphasize the rawness of steel and its ability to be created into flowing shapes and forms. The sculptures are characterized by ordered harmonious , even musical lines that exude motion. The forms are predictable yet chaotic giving the pieces life. Jim’s work is 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. The steel loses its coldness and solidness when transformed. “Creating pieces using steel is totally exhilarating. Although an image is in your mind, each bend or twist of steel, changes that original image. You have an image evolving again in your mind yet a solid piece is evolving right in front of you.”

Jim only recently consolidated his passion to sculpt after retiring from farming in 2006.