Jim Jenkins is a local artist who has been creating jewelry in the community for over 30 years. As a Utah native, his art education began in his high school Commercial Art Classes. After graduation, he continued with Commercial Art at the Utah Technical College, while employed in a serigraphy shop, printing billboards and other advertising media. After his discharge from the Army in 1972, he followed friends to Washington State to fish for salmon and resumed art classes at North Seattle Community College.
But he states, his jewelry education really began at the Alaskan Silver and Ivory Company. There he learned metal smithing, fabrication, inlay, engraving, lost wax casting and stone setting, working together with Judi Gauthier in the silver shop.
“Creating beautiful pieces became my passion and inspired me to set out on my own.” He began his wholesale company in 1980 selling his original designs to accounts across the United States, while also doing fine jewelry repair work at home in Bellingham.
Encouraged by Judi to share his skills, he accepted her invitation to be a guest instructor at Pouncing Rain Jewelry and Metalworking Center. “Pouncing Rain is a wonderful addition to our community and gives me an outlet to share my metal working knowledge with enthusiastic students.” Jim currently teaches the stone setting class, the pearl class, and the lost wax casting class, as well as some one-on-one instruction on most jewelry disciplines.
To view his creations, please visit his website at jhjenkinsandcompany.com.