Known for its vibrant colors and striking style, Jamie's art has been capturing Athens, in bold ink lines and vivid watercolor for over 20 years. His art can be seen across Athens, most notably the sprawling, 64-foot mural in the Tate Center, which captures UGA's campus. Piedmont Athens Regional hospital, Clarke County public schools and Flowerland also house Calkin murals. His art can be seen on the move too, as he's currently painting his fifth art car.

But he didn’t anticipate growing up to be an artist. Born in East Lansing, Michigan and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Jamie grew up fishing, playing soccer and doodling. Despite his childhood dream of becoming a forest ranger, he decided to pursue teaching, like both his parents. Jamie found his way to art during his time teaching science to high schoolers and getting his PhD in science education at UGA. Though he gave up on art in his youth, because it was "too hard," Jamie began practicing again, as he integrated it into his teaching. Attending art classes and sketching his dogs, daughters and just about anything around him, Jamie realized his joy and happiness was in his art.

Now a full-time artist and fixture of the Athens art scene, Jamie has been the smiling face behind hundreds of booths at art shows across Georgia, including almost every Athfest since 2001. Currently he enjoys monthly shows at the Bishop Park Athens Farmers Market and some Wednesday nights at Creature Comforts, where he loves displaying his lively silk projects. If you can’t find Jamie painting around town, he’s probably on the pickleball court, hanging out with chickens, or spending time with his two college-aged daughters.