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 been fortunate enough to be represented by a few 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 now a signature member of the Society of Animal Artists.
I've won numerous painting awards, including
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 Exhibit
3rd Place Award for "The Lily Pad Retriever" at the International ARC Salon Show 2024
OPA’s Most Original Award at the Oil Painters of America's 2023 National Exhibit
"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.
Southwest Art Magazine featured me as one to collect in their October/November 2021 issue.
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.
Recent Fine Exhibitions James has had work exhibited in:
2024 the International ARC Salon Show, 3rd Place Award for "The Lily Pad Retriever"
2024 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, 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
Awarded Best Animal painting
2023 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition Reinert Gallery Charleston, SC
Awarded The $20,000 Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship Award
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 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 Southwest Art Magazine my “Water Retriever” painting was a Finalist in their Artistic Excellence Competition December/January issue.
2021 Mountain Oyster Club’s 52Annual Contemporary Western Art Show Tucson AZ
2021 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best National Exhibition at Dana Gallery, Missoula, MT
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, National Exhibition at Gallery1516, Omaha NE
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 Principal 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
2018 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:
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
