Dreams Of Paradise 36" x 24" Original Wall Art By Jim Hansel
CNU Dreams Of Paradise 36X24 Original 1/1
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About the Artist
Jim Hansel
Jim Hansel, one of America’s premier wildlife, nature and landscape artists, is an artist
with a twist. At the age of 12, Jim was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition
called Stargardts. This eye condition left him legally blind. At a young age, Jim began to demonstrate his artistic ability. Throughout his life, he never swayed from his childhood dream of becoming an artist. In spite of his limited vision, he pursued his passion for painting with the use of low vision devices and has become one of the most collected artists in the United States and Canada.
As a result of his partial loss of vision, Jim hopes to serve as an inspiration to the
American spirit in overcoming his obstacles, along with his continued passion for art.
With images in nature, wildlife and Americana, Jim shows versatility and love of his
subject matter.
Jim’s ability to paint these images has not come without challenges. Despite his visual
limitations, knowing that the world we see is not always the world Jim sees, he created
beautifully detailed images with the use of magnifiers and low-vision devices. As Jim
painted the details of each painting, working only one or two inches away from the
canvas, painstakingly adding those details, he always had a clear mental picture of the
final piece. He believes that hard work and perseverance, as well as, a love of art are
the reasons for his continued success.
When Jim put on his glasses and began his brush strokes, his paintings came into focus, if only a few square inches at a time. Each painting is a collective of these small areas and a masterpiece of magnificent detailing, sometimes taking up to 8 months to
complete a single painting. It has always been Jim’s desire that his artwork be judged on its own merit in spite of his visual impairment. It is this determination and a
commitment to excellence that launched him into the national spotlight. Since the
release of his first image in 1987, Jim has produced nearly 200 limited edition prints,
many of which have sold out due to his immense popularity as an artist. His reputation
for detail as well as distinctive, colorful landscapes, have proven to be very popular with art collectors worldwide.
Jim has been invited to appear on different television programs, received much
recognition, along with numerous awards for his work. Over the years, he has been
commissioned to produce many paintings, which have been featured by Ducks
Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and TIP (Turn in Poachers). He has created works for other charitable organizations, as well. He was
commissioned by a Youth Project in Minnesota. This collection of paintings was used to raise money for their program, which benefits today’s youth in need of special services.
Many members of the Minnesota Vikings Organization have purchased Jim’s work in
support of this cause, as well as, for their own love of his art.
Jim has also been the subject of an award winning documentary, “Vision – Seeing is
Believing,” which shows the steps it takes for Jim to create one of his paintings. The
documentary can be seen on Jim’s website JimHanselART.com and on YouTube.
Jim lives in Chaska, Minnesota with his wife Lois, who has been pivotal in his success
within the art world. Married for over 40 years, Lois has been intensely involved in the
production of Jim’s art prints. With a background in advertising and print production,
she oversees the printing of Jim’s artwork to ensure the highest quality possible. Jim
