Local western oil paint artist Jim Clements spent the month of January teaching elementary students in El Dorado about oil painting techniques. Clements is an El Dorado native and USD 490 graduate, who’s loved drawing and art since he can remember. He even found himself designing ads for the El Dorado Times prior to becoming a full-time painter. After painting for most of his life, he decided to take the leap into full-time artistry 16 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. He focuses his works on the American west, involving true cowboy and Native American subjects.