Welcome to the Jim Willis web site!!
Jim has been busy carving, teaching and winning awards.  Also note the many new projects.

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.  Other more recent awards are:
"Cold Notes"; Stylized wolf, 1st place International Woodcarvers Congress, Davenport, IA 2008
"Lynx Mask"; Best of Show, 2009 Kansas City Carving Show, Walter Grether Award, AIW Show, Dayton 2008 and 1st in category and 3rd in Group, International Woodcarvers Congress 2009

Jim is always working on new pieces that will be offered at the Woodcarving Rendezvous and Silver Dollar City Seminars.  Please contact him for weekend seminars.  Several have already been scheduled for 2010, so call to reserve the date you want.  Jim and his wife, Ellen, live in Kansas City, MO, where they are frequently surrounded by their six grandchildren.

Visitors :

New Project