After a career in the sign making business, artist Jimm Jenkins is honing his skills creating his elaborate paper sculptures. He creates all kinds of characters with varying features, from limbs and costuming, to hair or teeth. Typically, he can finish most works in about 12 hours and gets a lot of joy from taking requests from friends and people in his community.
“I feel like I have found my tribe with the creators in the horror community, like Re-Animated Records, The Secret Morgue (a local horror movie marathon), and Fright-Mart. They have encouraged me to keep creating and making more monsters,” he said of becoming more involved in local events rooted in the horror genre, like this year’s San Diego Fright-Mart pop-up event.
From noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley, this one-day vendor market/mini-convention will host artists and activities that revolve around the theme of horror. It’s open to all ages and ission starts at $10.
Jenkins, 66, lives in downtown San Diego and retired from sign making during COVID and is now working as a full-time artist. He says his new career gives him a lot of practice in problem solving while also serving as a creative outlet.
Q: Tell us about what you’ll have at Fright-Mart this year.
A: Last year, I did mostly universal monster figures, all the classics were represented in paper. This year, I spread a larger net — I’m bringing Gamera (a fictional, Japanese giant monster), Eyegore (a cyclops-like figure from the game “Kenshi”), and the inspector from “Young Frankenstein,” to name a few. The pieces are created using paper and can be time consuming. For Gamera, the scales had to be individually done, which took about 12 hours to complete.
Q: How did you get started creating this style of artwork?
A: I started working in paper in the mid-1970s, mostly because paper is accessible and inexpensive. I started making smaller figures inspired by “Planet of the Apes” and “Star Trek.” Later, I started to want to improve on the basics. As my understanding of the medium grew, I realized that for free standing sculpture, everything is a tube; once you get the basics down, you dress it up. As I progressed, I started making monsters from films like “Dracula.” During COVID, I retired and decided to give being a full-time artist a shot. Since then, I have been exploring and refining my craft.
What I love about downtown San Diego…
The community. I am a native San Diegan and I love the local scene. There’s so much acceptance at shows and events. I love San Diego because we have so much diverse art and artists. Just look up and you can see that we are surrounded by amazing murals and public art. At Golden West Hotel downtown, there’s row of stone Elvis heads that used to be painted, but they are worn and gray (but there are still a few down there). Inspiration everywhere.
Q: People who don’t create art may tend to hear the word “sculpture” and typically think of the use of some kind of stone or clay; what is your perspective on the craft of sculpting? How do you find you tend to define “sculpture”?
A: I have heard my work described as “intuitive geometry.” Since my style is more cartoony, it works out. I also like to put restrictions on myself, as in only paper and no paint or ink.
Q: Can you walk us through your process? What are the steps you usually take, from concept to final execution?
A: Process wise, I always start with the head of the figure and go on from there. I rarely do a sketch. Paper can have a mind of its own, so sometimes that can change the direction of a piece. The time from start to completion varies depending on the detailing involved. I work mostly upon request and I make a lot of sculptures for friends.
Q: How did you learn how to create paper sculptures? Were you self-taught? Did you learn from someone else?
A: I am self-taught. I worked in the sign business before and when I retired during COVID, I decided to explore paper sculpture. A lot of my work is upon request, so I learn a lot each time I make something new.
Q: What was your introduction to horror?
A: My mother was a horror fan, and she took me to the local drive-in to see “Brides of Blood.” It was cheap and horrible, but it got me hooked on horror.
Q: What is it that you enjoy about the genre?
A: The community aspect. People in the horror community are so kind and some of the sweetest people you’ll meet.
Q: What inspires you, creatively, in your work?
A: I am inspired to make pieces that make my friends and clients happy. I want to spread that joy and keep art accessible.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: To keep creating! Keep going!
