Jim was born with a paint brush in his hand, and a pigeon perched on his shoulder. He spent most of his life in the western states, but claims Wyoming as home, where he is building a cabin studio. His teenage years were spent playing high school football, basketball and taking art classes.

His education in the field of art began as a youngster watching his grandfather Earl Fausett paint in his basement studio. Jim continued his art education at Western Wyoming College and Brigham Young University, and has furthered his informal education by traveling to museums in Russia, Canada and the United States. “If you want to be a great artist, you can learn from the masters themselves and the museums are full of them.”

Jim was invited to become a member of the Cowboy Artists of America in 1989. He resides with his wife, Pam, and four children in Santaquin, Utah.