The Art of Jim McCormick, M.D.

Many have made the claim that we either predominantly use the left or the right side of the brain attributing one side to the artistic and creative and the other the the logical or analytical. While this has been largely proven to be a false idea, many people still subscribe to the theory that people are either inclined to focus on the arts or the sciences. And, in some ways, there may be good reason for that. Many people do tend to gravitate to one or the other even if they may be skilled at both.

Of course, there are people out there who dabble in both areas and some have had quite successful careers doing so. Perhaps the most notable would be one of the key figures from the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci. While he gave is great artworks like the Mona Lisa, he also contributed to the world in the fields of anatomy, physiology and engineering and is credited with having come up with several inventions.

Recently, I learned about a man named Jim McCormick. I was turned on to his work through posts he made on the popular social media platform Reddit in an art community you can find at r/artstore. Once i began to take the time to look into it further, I was blown away. But not only was I struck by his talent as an artist but also his very interesting personal story.

The fact is that McCormick is an M.D. Yes, that is correct, a medical doctor. But for decades, he has also had a major passion for photography as something of a creative outlet. He describes his work by saying "My expressive voice is a blend of chemistry, physics, and photographic art."

McCormick limits his work to use with a few very specific types of media. Those media are oil, inks, glass and air. He utilizes the reflection of light to create amazing a beautiful patterns than seems to be both somewhat predictable and unlimited. The result is a brilliant form of abstract art that seems like the perfect fusion of science and creativity.

The prints he offers for sale on his website at FineArtLens.com are printed by McCormick himself on a massive, industrial printer. The high-end unit is a Canon Prograf 4100. These units are built to allow for wide-format art. For example, the typical size of the prints he offers from his online gallery is 32 inches by 48 inches. He also uses only LUCIA PRO archival inks. This ensures that they come out in print quality that will endure over time. Using this printer and these inks, the stunning results can reach up to 2400 x 1200 dpi on even the largest pieces he prints. This ensures a crisp, clean look.

From a purely art appreciation point, I enjoy the fact that like so many other abstract artists, McCormick's work leaves so much open to the interpretation of the viewer. Unlike say a still life painting of a bowl of fruit, which is just that, his art can be seen as many different things by different people. Sure, some of the titles like "Icelandic Ripples #3" and "Watchers #1" and "Watchers #2" may seem to steer you in a certain direction, that doesn't mean for can't see and experience any number of concepts for yourself.

For any art lover, especially those who enjoy abstract work, I would highly recommend that you check out his portfolio of colorful pieces. Perhaps you'll want some for your own collection. Or at the very least, it makes for a unique and aesthetically pleasing experience.