Original James "Buddy" Snipe Outsider Artist Painting on Tin / Folk Art / Southern Art

"Jonah in the Belly of the Whale When the Both of Them Were Little" by James A. "Buddy" Snipe is a textured mixed media piece, approximately 28 x 10 inches, merging childhood innocence with a biblical narrative. Crafted from tin remnants and tree branches, this nostalgic creation showcases intertwining elements, evoking a multi-dimensional scene. Despite the weathering of its materials, the artwork remains in impressive condition. The work includes a paper tag bearing its title.

Born in 1945 in Macon County, Alabama, James Buddy Snipe, the youngest of twelve siblings, displayed an early talent for crafting toys from scrap materials for himself and other local children. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to create and sell wagons and wheelbarrows fashioned from tree limbs and scrap lumber. Over the years, he engaged in various occupations, including craftsmanship and repairing household items for his community.

Snipe's artistic journey shifted gears as he delved into creating sculptural assemblages from found objects like roots, tree limbs, and scrap materials. Additionally, he ventured into painting pictures on discarded lumber and tin, integrating them with his discovered items. Departing from conventional artistic norms, Snipe infused his creations with rhythmic improvisation and narrative, uniquely bridging Primitive and Modern art while incorporating fundamental artistic elements.