James A. Shell, Jr. was born July 20, 1944, in Roxboro, NC and now resides in Greensboro, NC. He acquired his formal education from East Carolina College and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, Penland School of Arts and Crafts and Averett College.

His art is intaglio etching. This method involves making a plate through a process of etching and cutting until it is complete and ready for the press. The metal plate is then run through the press to create the image onto wet paper. The plate is cleaned and re-inked for the next image. After the print is stretched and dried, it is ready to be water-colored, numbered, signed and matted for distribution. His original etchings are all conceived, executed and produced in his studio, one at a time. Each edition is limited in number and his signature guarantees the work’s authenticity.

You will not see Jim Shell’s work on calendars, cards, rugs, and pillows or in any offset reproductions. He is an artist purist. He believes that anyone who buys his work should know that he printed, water-colored, matted and signed the piece of artwork. No one ever touches the work except himself and his wife, Barbara, who lays the work in its mat and helps with the framing.

Over the years, Jim’s work has remained affordable because he is committed to enabling people to have original artwork in their homes at a reasonable price. Needless to say, he has not become wealthy from his work, but he has the satisfaction of knowing that he has not prostituted his art.