Jim Eppler brings the power, beauty and magnetic attraction of nature to both his paintings and bronzes. Eppler creates from the experience of his lifelong enchantment with wildlife and his innate gift for the use of color and form. A seasoned artist who readily admits a romance with "the play of light and shadow, the way paint builds on canvas," he is equally captivated by gestures and textures that lend themselves to the three-dimensional aspect of bronze. Bringing his skill as a colorist to his sculpture, Eppler hand-finishes each bronze in his limited editions. Using patina and paint, his intricate knowledge of his subject matter is expressed with distinctive markings unique to each species.

While Eppler's art has always encompassed a remarkable range of artistic genre and subject matter, animals and their habitats constantly draw him to their world. When researching particular species, Eppler moves quietly into the world of wildlife. He watches, listens, learns and captures on film the remarkable dimensions of wildlife and their habitats. "My photos reveal their form and habits, but their gift to my soul is what inspires me to paint and sculpt." Creating in both mediums is a rich and gratifying experience for him, and has earned Eppler the respect of both colleagues and collectors. Born in 1950 with a BFA in Studio Art from Texas Tech, he studied with Bob Kuhn, Robert Wood, Bill Worrell, Raymond Froman, Charles Reid and Paul Milosevich.

He is represented in galleries from California to New York and has been featured in many books, and in numerous magazine feature articles. His public installations include the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Frederik Meijer Gardens, South Plains Wildlife Rehab Center, National Exhibits Foundation, National Ranching Heritage Museum, Booth Museum, West Texas Museum Collection, Loveland Sculpture Park, Benson Sculpture Garden, and the Virginia Museum of Animal Art, along with numerous private installations.

Jim Eppler

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