James Raymond "Jim" Behlke

Jun 26, 1958 -

Mar 30, 2022

James R. Behlke chose to end his life in March 2022. He was 63. Jim was an Alaskan who moved to Seattle, Wash., in 2017.

Born in Corvallis, Ore., Jim grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he discovered his talent for art and studied printmaking at University of Alaska Fairbanks. He went on to get his MFA at USC in Los Angeles, Calif.

Jim captured images of the arctic wilderness and atmospheric vistas in acrylic, watercolor, charcoal and ink. His breathtaking landscapes hang in major Alaska museums, as well as public and private collections. Jim experimented with art techniques that include stained canvas auroras, charcoal on canvas, digital drawing, midnight photography and 360-degree painted birch logs. A meticulous woodworker, Jim crafted picture frames, furniture and cabinetry. He also built a remote log cabin in the Alaska interior alongside his parents, Chuck and Jane Behlke. He was a passionate cook who was known for his elaborate paella dinners, sourdough pancakes, salmon and gravlax.

Jim was married to Liz Behlke from 1991 to 2019. Their daughter, Aurora, was born in 2001. Jim's sisters, Susan Behlke Foley and Carol Fox, along with his family and friends, also mourn his passing.