“For me, drawing is everything.. “
– Jim Dine
Jim Dine was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 16th, 1935. His real name is James and growing up was nicknamed “Jimmy.” He began creating art at a very young age and liked to go to art museums. He was Dyslexic and didn’t learn to read very well until he was 22. Dine states that as a child the only thing he could read was poetry. His mother died when he was just 12 years old. Dine studied at the Cincinnati Arts Academy during the early 1950s. He also received his education from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School and in 1957, Dine graduated from Ohio University.
In 1957, Dine married Nancy Minto, and the couple moved to New York soon afterward. They had five children, three sons, two daughters. Some of the children grew up to be artists as well: a photographer, an architect, and a glassblower. They now have twelve grandchildren.
After graduation in 1957, Dine moved to New York City and became involved with Robert Rauschenberg, Claes Oldenburg, and Roy Lichtenstein whose work moved away from abstract expressionism toward pop art. Dine incorporates everyday images of everyday objects in his art that fuse personal passions and everyday experiences. His repeated use of familiar and personally significant objects, such as a robe, hands, tools, and hearts, is a signature of his art. In addition to being a visual artist, Dine has published numerous books of poetry. He currently lives and works in the Blue Mountain foothills of Walla Walla, Washington. Art example: Carnegie Hall Heart.
For our Valentine’s Day project, Art in Action students added two dragons in love to the popular heart motif. Using watercolours, chalk and oil pastels, students had a lot of fun creating a dragon-tine this week!
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!