In the summer of 2003, The Friends of the Charlevoix Public Library presented an exhibit by well-known local artist, Jim Annis. The opening reception of the exhibit, "An Artist and His Art", was held at the Charlevoix Public Library on August 19.

Mr. Annis is a self-taught artist who began painting in the 1960’s.  He has mastered the art of capturing the past on canvas in his memorable scenes of yesteryear.  Of particular interest are his scenes of early Charlevoix, which include a number of early renditions of the Charlevoix Depot, Round Lake Harbor with early ships, the lighthouse and fishing scenes.

Mr. Annis is also well known for his nostalgic scenes of steam-powered locomotives, electric trolleys, vintage automobiles, old major league ballparks, and theaters.  He has received awards for his wonderful depiction of fish and waterfowl.  Some of these paintings have won trout stamp awards and have been featured on the covers of many fish and wildlife magazines.  His woodcarvings of fish show his attention to detail and his love of nature.

Almost every painting has reached the limited or open edition print stage.  His prints can be found in collections throughout the world and are sold in many galleries and museums.

Jim Annis Biography

Jim Annis has deep roots in Charlevoix.  His grandparents, Charles and Josephine Krulik, settled here around 1900, and he still lives in the home his grandfather built.

Jim was born in Detroit and grew up in Chicago, but he returned to Charlevoix every summer prior to relocating here permanently in 1959.  His two daughters, Carol and Susan, graduated from Charlevoix High School.

In World War II Jim was in the U.S. Navy stationed in the Solomon Islands where he repaired the hulls of landing craft and PT boats.  Upon his discharge from service in 1945 Jim returned to Chicago and worked in the building industry as a cabinetmaker specializing in office and kitchen design.  He continued to pursue this occupation after moving to Charlevoix.

Jim began his artistic career as a painter 33 years ago in 1970 after experimenting with woodcarving and painting during the 1960's.  His first painting was of the Charlevoix Depot.  He has evolved through many genre including trolleys and trains, vintage automobiles, game fish and birds, ships, Chicago movie theaters and baseball stadiums.

The signature characteristics of his works are vibrant colors, exquisite detail and historical correctness of every image.  He is known primarily as a nostalgia artist.  Jim estimates that over the years he has completed 130-150 works of art.

Many of his paintings have reached the limited or open edition print stage and can be found in collections around the world, including the permanent collection of the Chicago Historical Society.  His work is listed in the National Archives of Bowling Green University, the Great Lakes Nautical Museum and the Marine Collection Room of the Milwaukee Public Library.  Jim's prints have been sold in several Midwestern and Chicago galleries.  They are also available on the internet.

Over the years, Jim's work has been recognized in various media including coverage on ABC and CBS television, articles in local and regional newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune and Detroit Free Press, and in national magazines (articles and covers featuring his wildlife and game fish paintings).  He finished in second place in two different categories of Michigan Outdoors (a weekly television show) Artist of the Year Competition: great lakes ships and warm water fish.

Jim is an artist for the National Wildlife Federation having his work reproduced on their stamps and albums in the late 1980s.  In 1989 he won the Illinois Trout/Salmon Stamp Competition, and has placed in the top ten of similar competitions held by California, Michigan, Nevada and Kentucky.  He was most recently in the Trout Stamp Competition of Nevada in 2002.

During his career, Jim has completed two different series of paintings of which he is particularly fond.  One series includes five Chicago theaters painted during their heydays of the 1940s: the Grenada, Marbro, Chicago, Uptown and Paradise.  His baseball stadium series includes Wrigley Field, Old Comisky Park, Briggs (Tiger) Stadium, Crosley Field, and most recently in 2002, Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

During the last four years, Jim has cast his artistic eyes and expertise to new subject matter including a night scene of downtown Chicago in the 1940s, fly fishing scenes, Lake Michigan beach scenes and remembered Naval images of World War II in the South Pacific.

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