THE ART OF
JAMES TENNISON
INSPIRATION
Inspired by local geography, neighborhoods and landmarks around his home on Whidbey Island, Washington - as well as subjects he finds on his travels - James seeks to paint the beauty he sees all around.
What really excites him is the effect of light - sunlight and shadow - and the colors that can be seen in shadows and reflected light if one looks closely.
PORTRAITS
James's portrait commissions have taken him across the United States and to England. His works include the official portraits of former Texas Governors Rick Perry and Ann Richards, which hang in the State Capitol in Austin, portraits for the National Institutes of Health, Harvard University, Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Texas Instruments and Frito Lay, as well as many portraits for families.
EXHIBITIONS
James's paintings have been exhibited in galleries throughout the United States, including the Gallery Americana in Carmel, California; Galerie Kornye in Dallas and Galerie Kornye West in Fort Worth, Texas; Greenwich Workshop Gallery in Fairfield, Connecticut; Steamboat Springs Art Museum in Colorado, Illume Gallery in St. George, Utah, Museum of American Illustration and The Salmagundi Club in New York City; and Whistle Pik Galleries in Fredericksburg, Texas. He has taught and guest lectured at several colleges and universities and has given many private painting workshops.
FULL BIO
EDUCATION
1979-1982 ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, California, BFA
1972-1977 University of Texas at Arlington, BFA
EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE
2023 California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition - Virtual Addition Exhibition
2023 Oil Painters of American 32nd National Exhibition - Reinert Gallery, Charleston, SC
2022 Salmagundi Art Club 138th Annual Members Exhibition - New York, NY
2022 California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition - Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, CA
2022 Oil Painters of America 31st National Exhibition - Steamboat Springs Art Museum, Steamboat, CO
2021 Oil Painters of America 30th National Exhibition - California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA
2020 Oil Painters of America 29th National Exhibition - R. S. Hanna Gallery - Fredericksburg, TX
2019 Oil Painters of America 28th National Exhibition - Illume Gallery of Fine Art - St. George, UT
2019 Society of Animal Artists 59th Annual Exhibition - Briscoe Art Museum - San Antonio, TX
2019 California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition - Pasadena Museum of California Art - Pasadena, CA
2018 Oil Painters of America 27th National Exhibition - Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
2017 Oil Painters of America 26th National Exhibition - Eisele Gallery of Fine Art, Cincinnati, OH 2
2017 California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition - Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles, CA
2017 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition - Illume Gallery of Fine Art, St. George, UT
2016 California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition - Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles, CA
2016 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition - Marshall Gallery of Fine Art, Scottsdale , Az
2015 California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition - USC Fisher Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
2015 Virtuosos of the OPA - Salmagundi Art Club, New York, NY
2015 Oil Painters of America Salon Show Juried Exhibition - Beverly McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL
2015 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition - Wildhorse Gallery, Steamboat Springs, CO
2014 Hunting Art Prize Competition Finalist - Houston, TX
2014 Portrait Society of America International Competition Finalist - Washington, DC
2014 OIl Painters of America National Juried Exhibition - Bennington, VT
2013 Howard/Mandville Gallery 23rd Annual Invitational Small Works Show - Kirkland, WA
2013 Galerie Kornye West Fall invitational Show - Fort Worth, TX
2013 Society of Watercolor Artists International Juried Exhibition - Fort Worth, TX
2013 Galerie Kornye West Spring Invitational Show - Fort Worth, TX
2012 Salmagundi Club 129th Annual Members Exhibition - New York, NY
2012 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition - Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
2012 One Man Show “A Year In Fort Worth” - Galerie Kornye West, Fort Worth, TX
2011 Salmagundi Club 128th Annual Members Exhibition - New York, NY
2011 Galerie Kornye West 10th Annual Invitational Show - Fort Worth, TX
2011 Oil Painters of America 20th Annual National Juried Exhibition - Devin Galleries Coeur d'Alene, ID
2011 Society of Watercolor Artists 30th Annual National Juried Exhibition - Fort Worth, TX
2011 Galerie Kornye West Spring Invitational Show - Fort Worth, TX
2010 Salmagundi Club 127th Annual Members Exhibition - New York, NY
2010 Howard/Mandville Gallery 20th Annual Invitational Small Works Show -Kirkland, WA
2010 Oil Painters of America 19th Annual Juried Exhibition - Legacy Gallery, Scottscale, AZ
2010 Society of Watercolor Artists 29th Annual Juried Exhibition, Fort Worth, TX
2010 Salon International Juried Exhibition - Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2009 Howard/Mandville Gallery 19th Annual Invitational Small Works Show, Kirkland, WA
2009 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition - Howard/Mandville Gallery - Kirkland, WA
2009 Galerie Kornye Spring and Fall Group Shows - Dallas, TX
2009 Galerie Kornye West 8th Annual Invitational Show - Fort Worth, TX
2008 Galerie Kornye West Group Holiday Show - Fort Worth, TX
2008 Charleston Art Auction - Charleston, SC
2008 Oil Painters of America 17th Annual National Juried Exhibition - Dana Galleries, Missoula, MN
2008 Galerie Kornye Spring and Fall Group Shows - Dallas,TX
2008 Galerie Kornye West 7th Annual Invitational Show - Fort Worth, TX
2008 Galerie Kornye West Fall Group Show - Fort Worth, TX
2007 Oil Painters of America 16th Annual National Juried Exhibition - Whistle Pik Galleries - Fredericksburg, TX
2007 Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition - Washington, DC
2003 Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition - Philadelphia, PA
2000 Oil Painters of America 9th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Gallery Americana - Carmel, CA
New York Society of Illustrators Annual Juried Exhibitions 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33
AWARDS INCLUDE
2022 California Art Club - American Art Review Award of Excellence
2022 Oil Painters of America - Most Original Award of Excellence for Master Signature Artist
2021 Portrait Society of America - Member's Only Competition - 2nd Place Commissioned Portraits
2021 Oil Painters of America - Shirl Smithson Founder's Award for Master Signature Artist
2019 Oil Painters of America - Master Signature Division - Bronze Medal
2017 Portrait Society of America - Online Showcase - Finalist
2017 Oil Painters of America - Western Regional Exhibition - Award of Excellence
2015 RayMar Art Contest - Finalist
2014 Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition - Finalist and Award of Excellence
2013 Oil Painters of America Fall Online Showcase - Silver Medal
2013 RayMar Art Competion - Best of Show and Finalist
2012 Salmagundi Club, Salmagundi Club Purchase Prize
2012 Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition - Top Ten Finalist and Honor Award
2011 Salmagundi Club, Margery Soroka Memorial Award for Watercolor
2011 Galerie Kornye West 10th Annual Invitational Show - People's Choice Award
2010 Portrait Society of America - Certificate of Excellence Award
2010 Society of Watercolor Artists - Honorable Mention
2009 Campfire USA Plein Air Paint Out - Second Place
2008 Campfire USA Plein Air Paint Out - Best of Show
2007 Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition - Certificate of Excellence Award
2003 Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition - First Honor Award and People's Choice Award
Gold and Silver Medals - New York Society of Illustrators
Gold Medal - Dallas Society of Visual Communications
Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals - Dallas Society of Illustrators
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS INCLUDE
Ms. Ainsley Aerhardt, New York, NY
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Andlinger, New York, NY
Dr. and Mrs. Scott Bartlett, Philadelphia, PA
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Brandt, Alexandria, VA
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Beard, Atlanta, GA
Mr. and Mrs. Lester Bell, Copell, TX
Mrs. Elizabeth Stevens Campbell, Little Rock, AR
Mr. and Mrs. Holmes Davis, Dallas, TX
Mr. and Mrs. Menard Doswell, Fort Worth, TX
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dudley, Chevy Chase, MD
Mr. and Mrs. John duPont, Wilmington, DE
Dr. and Mrs. Greenberg, Florence, SC
Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Fowler, Lookout Mountain, TN
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jones, Dallas, TX
Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Jordan, Atlanta, GA
Brigadier General J. T. W. Landon, London, England
Dr. and Mrs. Richard Law, Fort Worth, TX
Mr. and Mrs. Clint Murchison, Dallas, TX
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Shelton, Pasadena, CA
Mr. and Mrs. Witt Stephens, Jr., Little Rock, AR
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Skilling, Houston, TX
Mr. and Mrs. Keith Watson, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Mrs. Alinda Wikert, Dallas, TX
CORPORATE, INSTITUTIONAL AND
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS INCLUDE
Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ
Dresser Industries, Dallas, TX
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Frito Lay, Inc., Dallas, TX
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Missouri State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO
National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
National Institute of Nursing Research, Bethesda, MD
PepsiCo Headquarters - Purchase , NY and Plano, TX
Saint Michael's Episcopal Church, Dallas, TX
Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
Texas State Capitol, Austin, TX
Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX
Texas Instruments Inc., Dallas, TX
University of Southern California - Irvine, CA
USAA, San Antonio, TX
UT Southwestern - Clements University Hospital - Dallas, TX
PUBLISHED IN
"The Book of the Horse -Horses in Art"
North Light Books, "Best of Portrait Painting"
American Art Review Magazine
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine
International Artist Magazine
Southwest Art Magazine
Communication Arts Illustration Annuals
New York Society of Illustrators Annuals 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33
MEMBERSHIPS
California Art Club - Out of State Artist Member
Oil Painters of America - Master Signature Member
Portrait Society of America - Signature Member
Salmagundi Art Club - Artist Member
Society of Animal Artist - Associate Member
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
Rob Schouten Gallery - Langley, WA
COMMISSIONED PORTRAITS
I usually require a two- to three-hour session during which my client and I discuss our expectations for
the portrait. We decide whether it will be formal or casual, indoors or outdoors and consider where it
will hang and what size the portrait will be. I then take many photographs to use as reference for the painting. This sitting is typically held at my client's location. After returning to my studio, I sort through the photographs and choose one or more that I feel will make a great portrait. I email these pictures to my client and upon selection of an approved image I begin painting the portrait.
Please inquire for portrait prices.
PROCEDURE
The portrait sitting is usually held at my client’s location and may take two to three
hours. My client and I discuss whether the portrait will be formal or casual, indoors or
outdoors, where the portrait will hang and what size it will be. I then take many
photographs to use as reference for the painting. The client and I often review these
photos together at this time to choose the best poses. After final decisions are made I
then begin painting the portrait.