My name is James Hamilton Fullmer.   Most friends call me, Jay, but James is just fine to use as well.   I'm the artist and creator of Book of Mormon Battles - let me tell you a little about myself.

I am the second oldest in an LDS family of seven kids.   We grew up all over the place (including time spent over-seas) but spent most of my life in areas of Wisconsin. Like all artists say, I've been drawing since I can remember.   Until I was an adult, I guess I never really realized that not everyone drew to express themselves like I did.   If I was thirsty in sacrament meeting and my parents wouldn't let me get a drink, I would draw glasses of ice water with beads of sweat dripping down the sides.   If I was frustrated I would draw mighty heroes pounding the earth.

In High School, my art teacher saw in me some talent but counseled me not to go into art.   "It's too difficult to make a living in art," he said.   So when college time came, I attended the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point and pursued a second love - Biology.  

After my first year of school, I served a full-time mission to Salt Lake City, UT.   What an incredible two years. One of the life changing facets of that experience was that it solidified my deep love for the scriptures and sharing them with others.   I was particularly interested in how I could help them come alive for kids.

When I returned home I continued my schooling for biology, focusing on a pre-veterinary program (I ended up with a BS degree in Biology with a emphasis on neuroscience).   While in school I ended up doing quite a bit of art for the biology department.   It occurred to me that those who were telling me that you couldn't make a living at art, were people who weren't making a living at art.   Maybe if I talked to someone who WAS making a living as an artist I might get better counsel.   So, I signed up for a one week workshop with 3 of the biggest names in wildlife art (my main interest at the time) - John Seerey-Lester, Alan Hunt and Carl Brenders.   Out of the 80 artists in attendance, I was chosen for the scholarship to the next workshop in...Guatemala!   In the spring of 1994, I entered the Peten jungles for the first time and saw with my own eyes the ruins of Tikal.   These were lands that were inhabited at one time by the very peoples spoken of in the Book of Mormon!   I knew then that I wanted to paint the stories and the people of that amazing book.  

I was married in the Chicago Temple the summer of 1994, and by the time our first child was due in 1996, I was ready to do my first wildlife art show. I focused on wildlife but branched out to anything that would bring in income in the days that I worked as a freelance artist.   During this time, I taught early morning seminary for the first time - and fell in love!   I LOVE seminary and it has stood as my favorite church calling ever since.

In 1997, we moved to Springfield, Oregon.   During this time I was encouraged to pursue seminary teaching as a full-time profession.   I've always been thrilled by creating visuals for the scriptures and I built some of my favorites during this time period (note the images to the right).   Although we knew, through fasting and prayer, that I should apply for a full-time seminary position, we never got the answer that I would actually get the job.   I didn't.   But the Lord knew that I needed the experiences that came from preparing for it and I am so grateful for them.

My wife asked me a pivotal question during that time.   She said, "Do you want to be known as a seminary teacher who also does art or as an artist who also teaches seminary?"   I didn't even have to think about the answer - an artist!

So now we were looking for more stable work for me as an artist and we found it in the most unlikely place.   In the fall of 2001 we moved back to Wisconsin for me to accept a job working as an artist in the "in-house" studio of Interior Systems Inc. (a commercial interiors company).   The job was great but I was in serious withdrawals for my beloved seminary.   I began to look for ways I could use that creative energy more for my kids and one of the fruits of that energy was Book of Mormon Battles.  

While I was working on the paintings for my card game, Covenant asked if I would design a Book of Mormon Chess game. I was delighted.

Since then I have designed a Checkers game and a strategic board game for them (release dates uncertain) and the NEWLY RELEASED - Warriors of the Promised Land! I'm very excited about this one. It's a great game. You can also see many of the illustrations in the new book, "Book of Mormon Who's Who" also published by Covenant.

http://www.jamesfullmer.com