Biography

Jim Wagner, a published illustrator, resides in Simsbury, Connecticut. His paintings of wildlife have appeared on the covers and pages of a number of national outdoor and hunting magazines, and pieces of his work are part of major privately-owned collections. 

Wagner's career in art began early. In the sixth grade, while studying at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts, he won first prize for the elementary school group. He graduated in 1952 with a B.F.A. from Ohio Wesleyan University. Years later, he was cartoonist for U.S. Army newspapers while stationed in France.

Wagner spent 23 years with the ad agency Wilson, Haight and Welch, achieving the position of Senior Vice President and Creative Director, responsible for the entire creative product of 7 offices, from Texas to Florida to the Northeast. 

In 1975, while at Wilson Haight and Welch, Wagner was elected one of "America's 100 Outstanding Creative People" as determined by a nationwide vote conducted by AD DAY/ USA. 

He has produced many television commercials and stage shows. He co-wrote and produced a documentary film, "The Planesman" starring Don Knotts. He won a CLEO for a 60-second spot during the Super Bowl and has won numerous awards, both national and regional, for his films. Mr. Wagner has produced films for showing in the US., Europe, and Canada.

Wagner's paintings have hung in numerous juried shows including the Vermont Institute of Natural Science 10th Annual International Wildlife Exhibition, Joppa Waterfowl Art Festival, Audubon Sharon's Wildlife Art Weekend and one man shows including the United Bank, the Simsbury Library Gallery and for the opening of the new Farmington Library. His work is displayed as part of the Sephen Bechtel collection in San Francisco.

He has entered numerous state wildlife stamp contests and was a finalist for the Kentucky Trout Stamp, and placed first in the Massachusetts Primitive Firearms and Archery Stamp and second in the Florida Wild Turkey Stamp.

Wagner has done numerous golf illustrations including golf course renderings of private clubs as well as LPGA and PGA and Seniors tournament courses. Recently he did the cover for the Connecticut Section PGA golf directory. His overhead painting of the TPC River Highlands Course, which is used for the GHO, has been given a spot in the Connecticut Sports Hall of Fame. He has also done numerous illustrations for magazines and books. He is a member of CAPA, (Connecticut Authors & Publishers Association).

Mr. Wagner also plays in and manages a dance band that has been performing for twenty- eight years throughout New England.

Copyright © 2009 Jim Wagner Art. All rights reserved