Jim grew up in rural South Carolina, the son of creative parents who nurtured his love of traditional American folk art. His grandmother, a master quilter, taught him patience and precision and instilled in him an appreciation for the beauty of handcrafted design. “There’s an innocence, a purity in early American art, particularly in quilts,” Jim says. “These were masterpieces created by artists driven to create. When I look at quilts made over 150 years ago, I’m constantly amazed. It’s high art from humble surroundings.”

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Although his heart was always in art, Jim initially pursued a degree in engineering to support his young family. He worked as an engineer by day while devoting his free time to sculpting and painting. Eventually, his passion led him to take a leap of faith. After several false starts and financial challenges, he founded Designs Americana, a company dedicated to manufacturing and marketing his designs. With little more than a few samples and a great deal of hope, Jim introduced his work to the public—and within three years, the business had grown to employ over 350 people.

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Today, Jim’s designs are sold in more than 15,000 stores worldwide and have generated over $1.8 billion in retail sales. He continues to personally design every piece in his Heartwood Creek and Disney Traditions collections, while expanding into new partnerships that include Peanuts, Harry Potter, Coraline, and The Grinch.

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Despite his global acclaim, Jim remains deeply grounded in his roots. “The most rewarding part of what I do,” he says, “is meeting the people who collect my work. For an artist, there’s no higher compliment.”