Work samples
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The LunaticsWhile searching for “animals of alien origin” in deep space, a crew of astronauts discover it's all fun and games until someone breaks the gravity generator.
This animation was made using cut paper puppets on a homemade multiplane camera stand. I created the audio and sound effects. The Lunatics has screened at several festivals. -
Brood XA short animation commemorating the summer of 2021, and our cicada invaders. This was commissioned for the Denver Digerati Silent Screen festival, which ran in September 2021. I then wrote, recorded and added the music to this version.
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Indigo Music VideoI was commissioned by the 2020 Sweaty Eyeballs animation festival to make "Indigo" for the Baltimore band WUME. I constructed a visual narrative around the lyrics from the song, and animated "live" drawings as the music in the video progressed. The scroll drawing ended up being 50' long.
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The Benefits of RadiationThe Benefits of Radiation is hand drawn animation that tells the backstory of some of my sculpture figures (which can be viewed elsewhere in this portfolio). I recorded the bar sounds at the Hamilton Tavern in Baltimore, and produced all the foley, sound effects and musical accompaniment in my studio. This has been screened at Maryland Art Place, the JHU/MICA "Made in Baltimore" festival, and the Sweaty Eyeballs 2021 animation festival.
About Jim
Baltimore City

I am an interdisciplinary filmmaker exploring themes of metaphysics, identity, and humor through the mediums of animation, illustration, assemblage, and sound. My body of work consists of tiny, cut paper dioramas in discarded objects (metal boxes, watches, tins, spoons, etc.), large drawings on Tyvek and scrolls of paper, hand drawn stop motion animation, and sound recordings consisting of composed music, tape loops, and musique concrète.
I identify… more
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Found and Chosen
As a coping mechanism for the collective anxiety we all felt during the pandemic, I took long walks through my neighborhood in Baltimore City, and later, other cities. It was a form of meditation. This developed into a practice of mindfulness. I was able to quiet my thoughts and become present. I noticed and found delight in objects and sounds that I previously might have overlooked.
Found and Chosen is a exhibition of compelling materials gathered during the pandemic. I used some of these materials and sounds to make new work, including several films and recordings. Using a generous grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, I was able to produce a CD/Cassette to coincide with an exhibition at the Hamilton Gallery.
Found and Chosen is a exhibition of compelling materials gathered during the pandemic. I used some of these materials and sounds to make new work, including several films and recordings. Using a generous grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, I was able to produce a CD/Cassette to coincide with an exhibition at the Hamilton Gallery.
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The Art of WarUsing found/discarded war prints and magazine pages, this animation is the first part of a longer work about the futility of war and fascism.
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PLASTICLANDPlasticland is a stop motion animation filmed over four seasons in my backyard, and featuring trash I found in the road.
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Plasticland InstallationNot only is Plasticland a short animated film, it's an installation play-set. This video is documentation of the installation at the Hamilton Gallery in Baltimore, and features some 3D animated scenes featuring 3D scans of some of Plasticland's inhabitants.
S.Ex. (Sound Experiments)
This collection features sound experiments and accompanying video/animation. I love making these.
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S.Ex. no. 15Featuring iPhone video, animated drawings from my trip to Puerto Rico in 2022, and a song I wrote in my head over the trip.
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ShorelineA surfy animated clip from a song for my upcoming album.
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Unknown no. 2iPad procreate drawing and an unknown loop, probably recorded in my car.
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Edward Gorey's OvenUsing a Kilter guitar pedal from Champion Leccy in Philadelphia, I recorded a guitar track to accompany a photo I took of the late Edward Gorey's oven in Yarmouth, MA. Sound Experiment no. 16.
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S.Ex. no. 5Dreamy bass guitar loops and video made from my iPhone in a ziplock bag underwater...
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La Vie en RoseStop motion animation and a hand drawn "Crankie" telling the story of a the day in the life of a solitary scholar.
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S.Ex. no. 13Prepared guitar, and a new use for bread ties.
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S.Ex. no. 10Of alligators, and other alligators. Pocket video and hand drawn animation from my last trip to Florida, with heavily processed guitar.
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S.Ex. no. 9: SecretsFound sound and found footage.
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Higher EdMade with animated clippings from discarded issues of College and University Journal, iPhone video and audio all captured in an academic library.
The Benefits of Radiation
When I was young, I got into a great deal of trouble for melting various army men and cowboys together to create new toys. I still enjoy making new characters, and I make molds of the more compelling figures so that I can reproduce them. I have digitally scanned some, like the red Birdman Roshambo and the Cactus Cowboy, in order to make 3D prints.
The Benefits of Radiation is an animation that tells the backstory of these transmuted figures shown in this entry. This is a hand-drawn animation, for which I recorded and produced all the audio.
The Benefits of Radiation is an animation that tells the backstory of these transmuted figures shown in this entry. This is a hand-drawn animation, for which I recorded and produced all the audio.
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The Benefits of RadiationThe Benefits of Radiation is hand drawn animation that tells the backstory of some of my sculpture figures (which can be viewed elsewhere in this portfolio). I recorded the bar sounds at the Hamilton Tavern in Baltimore, and produced all the foley, sound effects and musical accompaniment in my studio. This has been screened at Maryland Art Place, the JHU/MICA "Made in Baltimore" festival, and the Sweaty Eyeballs 2021 animation festival.
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Trailer for Stinky VillainsI made this short trailer for the stinky villain prototypes.
A Job as the Moon
I had a lovely dream that I was hired to be the Moon. This animation highlights some of that dream.
The animation happens on a 50' scroll of black tyvek, some of which is filmed under black lights. I set the film to Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy, performed by Amber Short.
The animation happens on a 50' scroll of black tyvek, some of which is filmed under black lights. I set the film to Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy, performed by Amber Short.
Scientifically Sound Questions
Scientifically Sound Questions are a series of animations that seek to answer life's big questions. I created an accompanying website where visitors can ask questions for me to answer in future animations.
The animations unfold on scrolls of paper, and feature cut paper puppets, my foley/sound effects and an accompanying soundtrack.
The animations unfold on scrolls of paper, and feature cut paper puppets, my foley/sound effects and an accompanying soundtrack.
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Scientifically Sound QuestionsScientifically Sound Questions, part one. I animated this on a long, single roll of paper. Completed in 2020.
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Scientifically Sound Questions: Coronavirus EditionScientifically Sound Questions: Coronavirus Edition seeks to answer some questions about COVID-19 with science. I produced this animation on a single scroll of paper, with puppets, visual effects and foley/sounds. The Scientifically Sound Questions series, which can been seen elsewhere in the portfolio, was inspired by conversations with my teenage daughter.
American Visionary Art Museum
I've been so very fortunate to have participated in two shows at the American Visionary Art Museum: THE ART OF STORYTELLING: Lies, Enchantment, Humor & Truth and The Great Mystery Show. AVAM is one of my favorite parts of Baltimore, and has been instrumental in my development as an artist.
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Crosshatched charactersAs part of my artist talk, I demonstrated cross hatching, which is one of the traits I share with Edward Gorey. He was also featured in the Great Mystery Show, and we had fun learning about his life and work. I made a zine to accompany this talk, which can be found in the "Other Projects" part of this portfolio.
Small Stories and Other Stories
Small Stories and Other Stories, a solo show at the Hamilton Gallery, collected over 80 dioramas that illustrated multiple storylines and themes.
My favorite is the story of the widower tailor, which appears in the manlte clock. He discovers that if one looks through the handles of scissors previously owned by other widowed tailors/cloth merchants/seamstresses on the 13th day of the 13th month during a full moon, one can see into the Land of the Dead. He's collected many such scissors, and some of these appeared on the wall next to the clock in the gallery.
My favorite is the story of the widower tailor, which appears in the manlte clock. He discovers that if one looks through the handles of scissors previously owned by other widowed tailors/cloth merchants/seamstresses on the 13th day of the 13th month during a full moon, one can see into the Land of the Dead. He's collected many such scissors, and some of these appeared on the wall next to the clock in the gallery.
Two Worlds Touch: Greenbelt Community Center Art
Debuting large scale drawings at The Greenbelt Community Center Art, I decided to weave a single story into almost all the pieces of this show. The cornerstone is the map, which points the viewer to the key elements of the story. For example, the map shows a paddock of the Four Horsemen, and on the opposite wall in the gallery stands a 10' drawing of the Horsemen waiting to ride out.
Memento Mori
This is work from my first solo show at School33 in 2011, which was one of my first shows anywhere. This material heavily relied upon and explored my theories on an afterlife.