About James
James Swanson
Signature Member of
American Impressionists Society
Oil Painters of America
National Oil & Acrylic Society
And a member of
Portrait Society of America
Society of Animal Artists
California Art Club
I’m originally from Beloit, Wisconsin and went to college to be a Forest Ranger, but I soon discovered that my real talent was painting trees rather than identifying them. That realization prompted me to transfer to The Columbus College of Art and Design, where I found my passion for illustration.
After college, I worked as an Art Director for an advertising agency before transitioning to the illustration world, where I created and illustrated posters, ads, book, and magazine covers for major brands like Budweiser, ESPN, US Tennis Open, McDonald’s, Kraft, and Soap Box Derby, among others.
I’ve since shifted my focus to fine art and have found where I belong.
I started painting my Golden Retrievers after my studio mate Atticus passed away. He was a beautiful golden and as a tribute to him, I painted a dog a day for a month and sold the all the paintings and gave the money to a local dog shelter. I became known as the painter of dogs, which I didn’t care for at the time, but have since embraced it.
I’ve been fortunate enough to be represented by galleries around the United States.
I’m proud to be a Signature Artist member of The Oil Painters of America, The American Impressionists Society, and The National Oil & Acrylic Society, having had my paintings repeatedly accepted into their highly competitive National Juried exhibitions.
I’m also a sought-after painting instructor, having taught hundreds of online classes and videos in the past few years. I’m known for my good sense of humor and positive teaching style, and I enjoy sharing my knowledge and passion for art with aspiring artists.
I’m also a Rembrandt Oil Paint Ambassador.
Painting Awards
The $25,000 Gold Medal Grand Prize for “Destiny of the Rising Sun” at the 2026 Oil Painters of America’s National Exhibition
The Best in Show Award for “The Water Guardian” in the 2024 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society’s America’s Best Small Works National Exhibit at the Sugarman Gallery in Santa Fe NM.
The prestigious $20,000 Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship Award at the Oil Painters of America’s 2023 National Exhibition
2026 NOAPS National small works exhibition “A Quick Dip” Won an Best Technique and Handling Award
2026 American Impressionists Society, National Small Works Showcase “Spring Awakening” Won Honorable Mention
2025 Bold Brush Competition September Bold Brush Award “Water Mage”
2025 OPA National Exhibition “One Wet Dog” Won an Honorable Mention
2025 NOAPS National small works exhibition “Coming at Ya!” Awarded Third Place
2025 Artists Magazine Top Dog Award for “Sound of Silence”
2024 The International ARC Salon Show, 3rd Place Award for “The Lily Pad Retriever”
OPA’s Most Original Award at the Oil Painters of America’s 2023 National Exhibit
2024 Oil Painters of America National Salon Exhibition James Ross Fine Art gallery “The Ball Boy” was Awarded Best Animal painting
“Best in Show” at the 36th Annual Northern National 2023
In 2022, I was awarded the Artist in Residence of Mackinac Island Historical State Park, where I spent two weeks creating 13 pieces of art and immersing myself in the island’s rich culture and history.
Recent Fine Exhibitions
2026 OPA National Exhibition “Destiny of the Rising Sun” Won The Gold Medal Grand Prize
2026 NOAPS National small works exhibition “A Quick Dip” Won the Best Painting Technique and
Handling Award
2026 American Impressionists Society’s National Small Works Showcase “Spring Awakening” Won an Honorable Mention
2025 Bold Brush Competition for September “Water Mage” won the Bold Brush Best in Show Award
2025 OPA National Exhibition “One Wet Dog” Won an Honorable Mention
2025 NOAPS National small works exhibition “Coming at Ya!” was Awarded Third Place
2025 Artists Magazine Top Dog Award for “Sound of Silence”
2024 The International ARC Salon Show, “The Lily Pad Retriever” was Awarded 3rd Place in the Animal Category
2024 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society’s America’s Best Small works show at the Sugarman Art Gallery Santa Fe NM. Awarded “Best of Show”
2024 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition Marks Arts Wichita KA
2024 Oil Painters of America National Salon Exhibition James Ross Fine Art gallery “The Ball Boy” was Awarded Best Animal painting
2023 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition Reinert Gallery Charleston, SC
“Morning Swim” Awarded The $20,000 Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship Award
“Morning Swim” Awarded The Most Original Award
2023 American Impressionists Society, National Exhibition at Somerville Manning Gallery in Greenville, DE
2023 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best Small works show at Mary Williams’s Fine Art Gallery, Boulder, CO
2023 “Best in Show” at the 36th Annual Northern National
“A Brighter Day” oil painting won an Honorable Mention in the Water Category in Pleinair magazines Art Competition
“These Boots” oil painting was a Finalist Award Winner in the January 2023 Bold Brush Painting competition.
2022 Awarded 3rd place in MVIS National impressionists show at the Cathy Kline Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2022 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best Small Works National show at The Beverly McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL
Gallery Representation:
Reinert Art Gallery - Charleston, SC
The Marine Gallery - Bonita, FL
James Ross Gallery - Indianapolis, IN
The Illume Gallery West - Phillipsburg MT
The Wilde Meyer Art Galleries - Scottsdale and Tucson, AZ
The Dutch Art Gallery - Dallas, TX
The Little Mackinac Gallery - Mackinac Island, MI
Ballard’s Fine Art Gallery - Sheridan WY
Art on Union Gallery - Traverse City MI
