Jim Heupel is a second-career professional nature and wildlife photographer, after his first career as a trial judge in the United States Air Force. He has photographed professionally all over the world, having travelled to all seven continents, as well as beyond both polar circles. He has photographed grizzly bears in Alaska, polar bears in the Arctic, bald eagles in Alaska, wild animals in Africa, hummingbirds in Ecuador, puffins in Iceland, and penguins in Antarctica. He loves the landscape opportunities in the southwest United States, and of course, the Texas wildflowers in the spring. His favorite place to photograph? Wherever he’s photographing at the time! His favorite subject? It has to be grizzly bears—he’s spent over 6 weeks in the field photographing them over the past several years. Most recently he was at sea for three weeks in the Southern Ocean, photographing at SouthGeorgia, the South Orkney Islands, and Antarctica (his third trip to Antarctica). His images have garnered numerous national awards, including most recently both a coveted Judges Choice Award and a Showcase Image Award from the 2016 North American Nature Photography Associate. He has won two Showcase Image Awards in previous years and been ​ ​a finalist numerous times.

Landscapes and still life scenes are my primary subjects. I paint in my studio from photos that capture my attention, whether it is the glow of the sky, a reflection in water, or a silhouette of trees against a skyline. My paintings progress in layers, starting with an underpainting that lays in the basic shapes, and progressing with additional layers of color as the painting takes shape. I use glazes as the final steps to create a luminescence and depth. My style of painting is tonalism, with an overall mood or atmosphere of quietness. The paintings are generally of simplified subject matter, rather than great detail. I use primarily warm hues with muted colors and soft contours to evoke a quiet, contemplative mood.

What began in 2007 as a once-a-week break for two hours, has become my passion and career full time. I mostly hand-build my work with coil and slab construction. My newest work is finished using primarily underglaze, slips and oxides, with limited use of glazes and cold finishes. Pieces are fired in oxidation, at times utilizing multiple firings. Growth in my work has taught me I must learn to trust the process…the hardest part of that lesson…is learning to trust the process. My life experiences will influence each piece, and although I could tell my story of what each piece means to me…I much prefer the viewer to experience the work, and discover what it means to them. I hope you enjoy and find your story in my work…Linda

Beverly's interest in art came at a very young age, but due to the accidental death of her father when she was seven years old she had no opportunity to develop her talent until much later in life. After high school she pursued a career in retail marketing in ladies designer clothing. She owned and operated a store in Baton Rough, Louisiana for eight years. Later she became a buyer for a major department store and traveled the world purchasing the best merchandise. At age 37 she married and gave up her career to raise a family. After raising her children, she began to develop her love for art by studying and taking lessons and workshops from some of the best artists in America, such as Judy, Carducci, Robert Liberace, Clayton Beck III, Laura Robb, Stonk Nordic, and Rose Fransen. She currently is being mentored by Gladys Roldon de Moras. Beverly is now developing her own style of painting with oils, mostly All Prima from life. Past gallery affiliations: The Woodlands Community Gallery, The Woodlands Art League Studio Gallery, Houstonian Gallery - Houston TX, The Art Center in Gulf Shores Alabama, Jan's Art Studio Gulf Shores Alabama. Past and present Membership and Participation: Portrait Society of America Woodlands Art League, The Woodlands TX Lone Star Ar League, The Woodlands TX Coppini Academy of Fine Arts, San Antonio Bourne Professional Art League, Boerne TX San Antonio's Art League Museum, Juried show April 2019