Artist Profile: Jim Davis

We first introduced you to Jim Davis with a guitar in his hands.

Now it's time to trade the guitar for a paintbrush.

While many people around Columbus know Jim for his vocals and acoustic guitar, in recent years another creative pursuit has increasingly captured his attention — painting.

And just as storytelling is at the heart of Jim's music, it has become an important part of his visual art.

On Saturday, September 19, visitors to Fall for the Arts will have an opportunity to experience both sides of Jim's creativity at Brick Side.

TELLING STORIES WITH A PAINTBRUSH

Jim's subjects range from landscapes and portraits to familiar buildings and scenes that capture a sense of place. Many of his paintings preserve moments that could easily be overlooked — a field of wildflowers, an old building, a roadside fireworks stand or a quiet rural landscape.

His work is representational without trying to reproduce a scene exactly as a photograph would. Visible brushstrokes, expressive color and simplified forms allow Jim's own perspective to remain part of each painting.

That approach was at the center of his 2025 exhibit, "Telling Stories," at the Columbus Art Gallery.

The exhibit was divided into two distinct stories: one explored Columbus through paintings of local buildings, landmarks and landscapes, while the other told the story of Jim's own creative journey.

FROM GUITAR TO EASEL

That personal journey includes a particularly meaningful painting.

As Jim began making a conscious effort to devote more time to visual art, he created a piece from the perspective of looking across his guitar toward an easel.

It became a visual representation of one creative passion looking toward another — and it inspired Jim to begin painting daily.

Those daily paintings eventually became part of "Telling Stories," creating a visual record of his development and commitment to his craft.

The guitar wasn't disappearing.

It was simply making room for another way to tell a story.

PAINTING THE FAMILIAR

There's something special about seeing a familiar place interpreted through someone else's eyes.

Jim frequently draws inspiration from the landscapes, architecture and people around him. From rural scenes and colorful gardens to buildings that carry their own histories, his paintings encourage viewers to look again at places and moments they might otherwise pass by.

He also paints en plein air, taking his materials outside and working directly from the landscape.

Whether the subject is a person, building or open field, Jim isn't simply documenting what he sees. He's preserving something about the experience of being there.

MEET THE OTHER JIM DAVIS

If you stopped at Brick Side at 11 a.m., you heard Jim tell stories with his voice and guitar.

Now take some time to see how he tells them with a paintbrush.

Jim's artwork will be on display at Brick Side during Fall for the Arts, giving visitors an opportunity to explore his paintings, talk with him about his creative process and discover how two seemingly different art forms come together through storytelling.

🎨 Jim Davis — Visual Artist
📍 Brick Side
📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ Artwork on display beginning at 11 a.m.

FALL FOR THE ARTS
Saturday, September 19
11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Trackside District – Downtown Columbus