It’s been two decades since electrician-stonemason-contractor-turned-artist Jim Dunn ditched the advice of his teacher to “get a beret” and found his own way to reach the many art students who have since sought him out.

And despite those 20 years of painting and teaching, Dunn is hesitant to call himself an artist. “Not bad for an electrician,” he jokes, pointing to one of his paintings of a bear standing in a stream. “I tell my students, ‘If I can do this, anyone can do it.’ That’s what inspired me,” he says, “was thinking, even I can do this.”

Today Dunn, who teaches out of Craft Mania in Auburn and at Carousel Crafts in North Jay, is the only Maine painter to teach the “Alexander technique,” which uses thick oil paints applied over a base of wet oils or acrylics, allowing for dynamic blending of shades and colors.

While the wet-on-wet oil painting technique actually dates to the 14th-century Flemish masters such as Rembrandt and Jan Van Eyck, the method of painting developed a modern following when a pair of popular how-to-paint shows with charming, charismatic hosts aired on PBS during the 1970s and ’80s. “The Art of William Alexander” hosted by Bill Alexander, known as “The Happy Painter,” and “The Joy of Painting,” with Bob Ross — think Mr. Rogers with a big afro talking about “happy little trees” – captured the public’s fancy by demystifying the art of painting with oils.

Watching Alexander and Ross create oil paintings in a matter of minutes – not the hours or days usually associated with the medium – made the whole thing seem so much less daunting. A little positive attitude, some tips on simple tools and techniques, a little inspiration and voila . . . you were ready to become an artist.

Neither Alexander nor Ross is considered a great artist, but both are talented in their own right and were good pitchmen, who readily admitted their focus was to help “anyone” paint a picture.

In the family

In 1991, when Dunn was learning to paint in this style, only three other artists in Maine were certified “Alexander” instructors, among them were Dunn’s stepfather, Leon LaRoche, and Dunn’s teacher, Shirley Welch. Dunn is the only remaining member of that group.

Today, Dunn, in his low-key, mellow style, teaches between two and five classes a week, with an average of eight students per class. Over the years, that’s meant many students have learned the art from Dunn.

His own artwork, which often channels Ross and Alexander in its semi-realistic style, is frequently inspired by nature. Many of his images are scenes of wooded landscapes, mountains, the iconic objects from the state of Maine, chickadees, rocky coasts, birches and pines. One of the paintings he has on display at Craft Mania is of Sugarloaf in autumn. Another is of a young girl, looking up at a bird, standing in a clearing in a wood. “I like to paint animals,” he says, “Or the kids. People. I do a lot of portraits.”

In terms of hours, Dunn only works part-time teaching art classes. Which means he continues to support himself in other ways: small masonry projects, construction, working as an electrician.

Dunn is an artist, in the truest sense; he does not make his living in full from producing artwork or teaching its methods, but he imbues everything he does and every part of his life with a personal style and artistry that seems inseparable from the man himself.

“I’m always constantly looking around for material,” he says. And no wonder, considering that he has to produce between two and five original pieces each week in order for his students to have something to learn from. For that reason, while many of his pieces are inspired by his own searches, others are inspired by the works of fellow painters.

Parting pangs

He sells his works, but says it’s harder to part with the truly original creations. Sometimes he puts “ungodly prices” on his originals to discourage buyers. Though even this plan sometimes fails, as when a painting of Pinkham Notch, which he had priced exceedingly high and had on display at a local hotel, was snatched up by a couple of guests. Dunn exhibits his paintings at local fairs and art shows, and also puts them on display at nearby businesses, including the Farmington Irving gas station. There, he says, the right half of the store is covered in works by his stepfather, while his own works adorn the left side.

Dunn constantly reminds himself that he is as much an artist as a teacher of art. As he chats he offers some tips on how to make the production of art less expensive, for the beginning hobbyist: “An artist can spend six or seven hundred dollars on equipment, and that’s not really that much.” But, he says, for the beginner, “I say to just buy the primary colors, a tube of red paint, a tube of yellow, and blue, plus black and white, and maybe some thinner.” Besides this, he says, you can get cheap canvas and brushes, and you’re ready to paint.

“When you do classes with Jim,” says Betsy Chisholm, a student of Dunn’s who drives from Mechanic Falls to Auburn weekly to take classes, “you leave with your product, but also with an understanding of how to do it.” Chisholm has taken eight classes with Dunn, and one day hopes to sell her artwork. Though, in the meantime, she says, she enjoys these “exercises in learning.”

Dunn hopes to continue teaching and to expand to other locations. “I’d go all over the state if I could,” he says. For now, you can catch one of his classes, which are open to the public, either at Craft Mania in Auburn on Fridays and Saturdays, or at Carousel Crafts in North Jay on Mondays and alternating Tuesdays and Sundays.

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