About James
James Swanson
Signature Member of
American Impressionists Society
Oil Painters of America
National Oil & Acrylic Society
And Member of
Portrait Society of America
Society of Animal Artists
Originally from Wisconsin, I went to college to be a forest ranger, but found I was better at painting trees than identifying them. So, I transferred to Columbus College of Art and Design where I studied illustration.
I moved to Chicago and worked as an art director at an ad agency for a few years then found my way into the illustration world, where I illustrated posters, ads, book, and magazine covers. I did work for clients such as; Budweiser, ESPN, US Tennis Open, USA Olympic Volleyball Team, Belmont Stakes, McDonald’s, Kraft, and Soap Box Derby.
I still work as an illustrator, but I have made the transition to the fine art side as an oil painter as well, finding representation in galleries around the United States.
My latest news, “I hit the oil painter’s trifecta!” I am now named a Signature Artist member of The National Oil & Acrylic Society, The American Impressionists Society, and The Oil Painters of America. I was awarded these honors by having paintings repeatedly accepted into their highly competitive national juried exhibitions. I have also been selected as a signature member to the Animal Portrait Society.
I’ve won quite a few painting awards, but one of the most prestigious was for my “Loaded Down Woman” which won the Quinquagenary Grand Prize in Painting at the 73rd Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition at the Swope Art Museum and was purchased by the Art Museum for their collection.
In 2022, I was awarded the Artist in Residence of Mackinac Island Historical State Park.
Southwest Art Magazine has me listed as one to collect in their October/November 2021 issue.
“James is a sought-after painting instructor and has done over 150 online classes and videos over the last 3 years. He has a good sense of humor and is a positive teacher.”
-Southwest Art Magazine
I am also an Educator and hold oil painting classes and workshops. With the Covid Pandemic I've stretched my Oil Painting classes Internationally with Online classes through Zoom.
I am also a Rembrandt Oil Paint Ambasador.
Recent Fine Exhibitions James has had work juried in:
2023 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition Reinert Gallery Charleston, SC
"A Brighter Day" oil painting won an Honorable Mention in the Water Category in Pleinair magazines Art Competition
"These Boots" oil painting was an 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 show National Exhibition at The Beverly McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL
2022 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best National Exhibition at Wilcox Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY
2022 American Impressionists Society, National Exhibition at Mary Williams’s Fine Art Gallery, Boulder, CO
2022 American Impressionists Society, Small Works National Exhibition at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art, Taos, NM
2021 Oil Painters of America National Salon Exhibition at Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Gainesville, GA
2021 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition at California Center for the Arts Museum Escondido CA
2021 Yosemite Renaissance 36 at the Yosemite Museum Gallery in Yosemite, CA
2021 American Impressionists Society, Small Works National Exhibition at Reinert Gallery Charleston, SC
2021 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best Small Works National Exhibition at Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC
2020 The 75th Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition at the Swope Art Museum in Terra Haute, IN
2020 Water Show at the McCord Gallery in Palos IL
2020 Mackinac Island Art Exhibition at The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum in Mackinac Island MI
2020 Oil Painters of America, National Salon Show held online
2020 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best Small Works National Exhibition at the McBride Gallery in Annapolis MD
2020 Yosemite Renaissance 35 at the Yosemite Museum Gallery in Yosemite, CA
2019 American Impressionists Society, Small Works National Exhibition at the Crooked Tree Art Gallery in Petoskey, Michigan
2019 Arkansas Territory Bicentennial Art Exhibition
2019 The Emerald Isle Show at the McCord Gallery Palos IL - Won Best of Show
2019 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best Small Works National Exhibition at the RS Hanna Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX
2019 The 74th Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition at the Swope Art Museum in Terra Haute, IN
2019 Virtuosos of the Oil Painters of America at the Cutter & Cutter Fine Art in St. Augustine, FL
2019 Yosemite Renaissance 34 at the Yosemite Museum Gallery in Yosemite, CA
2018 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition at the McBride Gallery in Annapolis MD
2018 Mackinac Island Art Exhibition at The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum in Mackinac Island MI
2018 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best National Exhibition at the Richland Art Gallery in Nashville TN
2019 American Impressionists Society, National Exhibition at the Peninsula School of Art - Guenzel Gallery in Fish Creek, WI
2018 The 73rd Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition at the Swope Art Museum Terra Haute, IN
2018 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition at the Steamboat Springs Art Museum in Steamboat Springs, CO.
Gallery Representation:
The Wilde Meyer Art Galleries in Scottsdale and Tucson, AZ
Reinert Gallery Charleston, SC
The Dutch Art Gallery Dallas, TX
The Little Mackinac Gallery Mackinac Island, MI
The Lagrange Fine Art Gallery, Lagrange IL
The Arrow Gallery Fort Collins, CO
