by Niki Chanel
Contrary to popular belief, not everyone heads to California first chance they get. Jim Walker, who was born in New Jersey and raised 
But in 1970, Jim arrived in Corona del Mar and, using his degree, went into hotel and restaurant management. Moving up the coast, he made it to South Bay, where long-time locals may remember “The Lobster House” in King Harbor, one of the many restaurants that Jim managed. It is said that the restaurant business is one of the hardest, but Jim’s point of view is positive; ever the optimist, he gives me one of his self-talk sayings: “Never listen to the counsel of defeat.”
A resident art enthusiast of Palos Verdes for thirty-five years, Jim had raised a family of two boys. For relaxation he sometimes drew portraits of his kids, Jeff and Cory. As a young man with an interest in paintings and sculpture, Jim had already studied pen and ink, charcoal, and pencil drawing when a friend from high school introduced him to the book “Drawing on the Right Brain of the Brain”, by Betty Edwards. It helped him find photographic realism in his own drawings, making a deep impression on Jim and cemented his interest in the arts. He would later go on to teach the method to others.
There were family influences, too; his dad was a bit of an artist, trying his hand at oils and one of his younger brothers is an artist with the Realist Representation of the Student’s Art League in New York. Following in the family tradition, Jim took up life drawing classes at Angel’s Gate, in San Pedro and dreamed of ‘repping’ artists like Florence Strauss, Bob Doughty, Kay Bonano and Pat Dispenziere, perennial Palos Verdes favorites that he had been a fan of for so many years.
But it was dealing with the restaurant business that made him realize the value of bringing art to the fore - by hanging paintings of area artist’s on the walls of his own businesses, he could introduce the public to fine art and share his love of creativity and colour. Initially, the idea was to enhance the dinning experience, though to Jim it was more personal; his mantra of the day? “Dwell on your desires, not on your fears.”
Today Jim represents twelve prominent, award-winning South Bay and Los Angeles artists, and two of them, his hero’s: Florence Strauss and Bob Doughty. The current group uses oils, acrylics, watercolour, mixed media, several drawing mediums and some are digital illustrators. Subjects range from flowers to seascapes and after thirty-plus years of looking at the classics, like Albrecht Dürer and Ingres, Jim Walker is a “good eye”, though his test of true talent is whether of not “it knocks his socks off”. This is the Walker Artist Group!
As a representative he introduces these artists to dealers, buyers, 
businesses, individuals and galleries; galleries like the Zask, that used to be on PV Dr. West, below The Admiral Risty. Recently the gallery moved up to the shopping plaza level, across form the Risty, opening with a show of “Assemblage” art - a form of sculpture comprised of "found" objects. The show, “Lost and Profound” was very well attended.
To make an art presentation is, in itself, an art. Jim tells me that the first rule of thumb is to “know thy market”. He demonstrated to me that he does, indeed, know the market with a personally guided tour of the “San Pedro Art Walk” happening every first Thursday between 4th and 10th Street, Pacific and Mesa Avenue, in San Pedro. After 
Representing artists has its perks; occasionally, Jim will get an art lesson from one of his favourite artists who help with his portraits. He in turn helps out the artists through rentals and leasing of the pieces, as well as sales of their work. “In this economy, you’ve got to take heart, and buy art!” Services include fine art, portraiture, murals, landscapes, abstracts and ‘designer-ly’ pieces in a variety of mediums such as charcoal, oil, acrylic, watercolor, pen and ink, digital and photography.
The Jim Walker Artist Group can be perused on the internet at walkerartistgroup.com where you can see the work of Jim’s favourite artists, such as Florence Strauss, a floral painter who also lives in Palos Verdes, and Elizabeth Knox who paints portraits (links to their websites are on Jim’s site). But like a parent, all his artists are his favourite, and Stephen Eugene Mirich is no exception. Stephen is responsible for the final push that Jim needed to get into the business of dealing art. A realistic seascape artist in the “plein aire” discipline, Steve lives in Portuguese Bend and paints in whatever weather he finds; under an umbrella in the rain or using flash lights at night. He understands immersing oneself in their art and helped Jim to remember another one of his axioms: “Don’t let anybody rain on your parade.”
Being somewhat art deprived, I feel rejuvenated by the tour and excited that I have found a resource to experience more art. Jim tells me there are many other spots in the San Pedro area, including The Loft at 4th and Mesa. The three story building is a story of War and Peace - it’s a renovated Army barracks that now houses only art. Another gallery that Jim loves is The National Watercolour Society, a non-profit organization for over ninety years, and is presenting a stellar exhibition now through the 10th of December, located at 915 South Pacific Avenue, between 9th and 10th Street. Many more venues abound in the mind of Jim Walker, waiting to be explored. Visit him online at http://www.walkerartistgroup.com or give him a call at 310.947.4610 if you want to know more about the art world that surrounds us. “It’s a delight to be a part of the South Bay Art Community. There is a wonderful generosity of spirit that unites artists here.”
