Welcome to Jim Willis updated web site!!
Jim has been busy carving and teaching.

Neckerchief slides carved with a pocketknife were Jim's first carving projects.  These earned him merit badges in Boy Scouts but an eagle plaque carved in a high school Industrial Arts class earned him his first sale - to his wrestling coach, no less!

Pursuing a love of woodworking, Jim earned a Master's Degree in Industrial Arts Education from Northwest Missouri State University and began his teaching career in 1971.  Marriage and fatherhood soon took up a large measure of his time but a strong interest in carving remained.  There was no stopping him after going to one of Kansas City Woodcarving Club's annual shows.  He has been a member of that club since 1976.

Over the years, Jim, the wildlife woodcarver, has carved in numerous styles - caricature, relief, stylized animal, carousel figures - but his true passion is for realistic animals, western figures and Santa Clauses.  His work has won numerous awards at regional carving shows, the Dayton Artistry in Wood Show, and the International Woodcarvers' Congress in Davenport, IA.  His Santas have been published in Wood Carving Illustrated.  His "Christmas Past" Santa is featured on the cover of the Holiday 2004 issue and is included in the new Santa Showcase book.

Jim is looking forward to his fifth year teaching at the Woodcarving Rendezvous in Branson, MO, and is available for weekend seminars, as well.  He and his wife, Ellen, live in Kansas City, MO, where they are frequently surrounded by their six grandchildren.

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