Raised by the artist Clifford Prothero, Jim learned his trade growing up. After years of teaching high school, Jim was inspired by his daughter's picture books to switch to watercolor. Studying under Alan Lugena and Steve Foster, Jim applied his training to catching the light in places he loved, in the American Southwest, the California coast and also to portray strong characters, and the beauty of flight. He teaches watercolor at the Showcase Gallery in Santa Ana, California.