Jim Soppelsa grew up with an appreciation of art and design. Jim’s father, A.J. Soppelsa, a talented Cleveland commercial and fine artist, instilled in his son a love of line, color and shape—and a fascination with what he termed “the abstract.”

Graduating from the Cooper School of Art in 1974 with a major in communication design, Jim began his career as an apprentice keyliner at Manning Studios in Cleveland. He was awarded a Special Mention in Graphics in the 1980 CMA May Show.

Jim spent the following family and work years as co-owner, designer and production manager with Sun Art Decals, a Cleveland silkscreen and digital production company. He continued to pursue drawing, painting, cartooning and small graphic journals in his spare time.

Since retiring from the commercial world, Jim has returned full-time to the studio with projects he began nearly fifty years ago.

“I start with basic sketches based on a variety of grids broken down into three sections. Subtle tensions develop among shape, line and color”—what Hans Hoffman described as the dynamics of “push and pull.” Other European influences of Mondrian, Klee, the Italian Futurists and Bauhaus design are evident in Jim’s art.

“My work is based on the elements of land, sea and air. Nearly all my initial drawings are threes—circles, squares and triangles, black and white or primary colors. At times I venture into secondary colors, shades and tints. Working in series and systems with a few limiting parameters, I am amazed at the visual freedom I find.”

Jim’s formal approach to design is not devoid of light-hearted humor and whimsy. Dancing figures, jazz notation, fantastic creatures and expanding landscapes, all brimming with energy and motion, are brought to mind.

ArtiCle Gallery presents Jim Soppelsa: Combinations Along The Way for your viewing pleasure.

 

JIM SOPPELSA: COMBINATIONS ALONG THE WAY | SEPTEMBER 3-26
RECEPTION 6-9PM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

BITS AND PIECES: A COLLAGE SHOW | NOVEMBER 5-28
WORKS OF SUSAN SQUIRES, ZOE MURPHY, KELLY PONTONI, KATHY SKERRITT, AND KIM BISSETT
RECEPTION 6-9 PM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5

 

ARTICLE GALLERY/ART IN CLEVELAND
15316 Waterloo Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44110
artincleveland.com
440.655.6954