Soft-spoken and modest, Jim Daly would seem a reluctant celebrity. Still, his tender and nostalgic portrayals of children have earned him a wide and ardent following among collectors. Born in Oklahoma and raised throughout the West, Jim developed an early appreciation for the art of Norman Rockwell and at a young age knew he wanted to be a painter himself. He can recall—and his parents still own—a painting he did at age 13 of an old-fashioned barbershop. "Even back then," he says, "I had an interest in the past ... and I still prefer the warm palette I used then." After a stint in the army in the mid-1960s, Jim studied nights at the Los Angeles Art Center College of Design while working days at an aerospace company. Within just a few years, he was able to devote himself entirely to his art. His wife, Carole, and their four now-grown sons frequently modeled for him. Jim s paintings are represented in many private and corporate collections and have earned a wealth of awards, including the Favell Museum s Western Heritage Award for excellence in portraying realistically and accurately early Americana. Articles about Jim s work have appeared in Southwest Art, American Artist and Art West magazines among others and in a recent U.S. Art magazine poll, gallery owners named him one of their top 20 most popular artists. Jim has also had the pleasure of illustrating three well- received children s books. He and Carole currently make their home in western Oregon.