Meet Jimmy Houston in Northwest in City Centre

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jimmy Houston.

Jimmy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I absolutely love what I do. I am a proud native Houstonian, grateful to be a full time, professional fine artist. My journey began at a very young age, before anyone really taught me to create. Even then, I knew I wanted to tell stories. I learned to draw from storybooks, comics and old Popeye cartoons.

Later, I attended the University of Texas and studied Radio TV Film. All the while, I continued to hone my craft as a fine artist. Little did I know, I would later be painting professionally.

The journey that led me to where I am today, doing what I love, was certainly not a straight forward one. After years of trying my hand at film work, opening my own mural business and working for others, my heart remained with fine art. At some point, in the middle of my day job, I realized that I needed to take a step of faith. Someone once told me, “leap and the net will appear.” So, I leapt and haven’t looked back. I learned a valuable lesson, not only in my path to becoming an artist but also in life. Don’t ever let anyone tell you “have to be this” or “you can’t be that.”

Has it been a smooth road?
The road to success as a professional artist has be sporadic, bumpy and, at times, an all-out roller coaster. After nine years, I am still surprised where the road takes me. Early on, I struggled with that dream inside me. I was working a job that was on its last leg and creatively it left me miserable. After a very deep and poignant loss in the family, I was made aware that life is so very short. I decided I no longer wanted to waste it doing something that left me unfulfilled.

On the side, I was participating in every art show I could get in to. When the opportunity arose, my beautiful, resilient and supportive wife encouraged me to quit my day job and pursue my dream. I can’t say it has all been smooth sailing since then. The life of an artist is constantly shifting. We learned to navigate the art world through the school of hard knocks. I learned to be bold with my work and to speak up for myself.

So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Jimmy Houston story. Tell us more about the business.
Currently, I am represented by the Muir Fine Art Gallery, located in City Centre. My managers John Lockhart and CJ Alvarez have sold my work to a fantastic variety of local, as well as international clients. I am a “retro-animation” artist. My work strives to evoke imagination, satire, mystery and, above all, emotion using my one-of-a-kind characters. I use a myriad of mediums to sculpt these pieces together. These include acrylics, spray paint, canvas, pencil, pastel, fabrics, found papers, wood, metal and so many other bits.

As an artist, I am personally most proud of being able to work with such a stellar management team and to be able to daily create a new world with my characters in canvas. It is a dream come true.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The art business is certainly an old an enduring one. I feel like now, more than ever, is the golden age of visual storytelling. Whether it be through films, television, internet videos, comics, graphic novels or fine art. One cannot go through a day without experiencing it in some form. The tools of the trade have shifted drastically to all forms of the digital realm. I make my pieces by hand with paints and brushes. I find that in this age of virtual creation, people are still drawn to and value the touch, feel and texture of a work of art made by hand. Although I would certainly never limit myself or the world of my characters from new horizons, I still enjoy each brushstroke.

Contact Info:

• Address: Muir Fine Art Gallery
  818 Town & Country Blvd. Suite 106 Houston,TX 77024
• Website: www.jimmyhoustonart.com http://www.muirfineartgallery.com/Artist-Detail.cfm?ArtistsID=1095
• Phone: (713)722-0099
• Email: MuirFineArt@hotmail.com
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/jimmyhoustonart

Image Credit:
Dreamcatcher Photography Nikki Cortez

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