Fred Jinkins, Artist, Photographer - Biography

Fred Jinkins – Houston Artist/Photographer – When I was 12 I had the opportunity to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art in New York City. This was a very powerful influence on my life. I also lived in many places while growing up. Galveston, Balboa, Panama, Key West, Washington, D.C., Fort Monroe, Virginia in the space of six years. In 1958 I was able to attend classes in art at the Museum of Fine Art Houston. I then studied with several artists at the Art League of Houston and attended many workshops. Also I was able to study with artists such as Chester Snowden. He was a nationally known artist and art instructor and a friend of Ima Hogg. I also studied with Dick Turner who was a very fine artist. Many of our fine artists studied with Dick Turner. Joseph Silhavy was another fine artist I studied with. He did beautiful paintings of horses and was an artist for the movie industry. As my art skills improved I was able to sell my work at art shows and fairs. In 1961 I met Margaret Dryer of Dryer Galleries and she graciously consented to show and sell some of my work. I took part in several shows at her gallery. In 1978 I opened my own art and photography studio and I did art and photography for several publications. I did art and photography for the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston in the Media Production Center. Also I covered events such as The International Golf Tournament at the Woodlands for the Irish Tourist Board. These pictures were published around the world. My art work appeared in several art magazines. My work was placed in the permanent collection of the Art Museum at the University of Southern California at Riverside. In 1990 Yolanta Thompson invited me to have a one man show at Yol Art Gallery. I had 118 paintings in this show and over 100 people attended the opening. I sold a number of paintings. It was a good show. Yolanta and I became good friends and we remain friends to this day. I have shown my work in several of her shows. At the age of 72 I still paint, mostly in watercolor, and I still take many photographs. Perhaps I will have another one man show in the near future. I have many friends in the arts in Houston and also many of my customers have become my friends. I invite you to visit my web page at http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/hapyom Hapyom means Happy Old Man. Fred Jinkins 4/8/2001