REPRESENTED ARTIST
About James
James McGrew first backpacked in Yosemite at just four months old and subsequent family camping/backpacking trips inspired an early interest in art and nature as he was constantly drawing and painting.He began using pastels at age 8 and his father's oils at 10. Today he is best known for his oil paintings interpreting western National Parks. A strong background in natural sciences (degrees in biology, chemistry and geology and grad work for M.S. in Environmental Ed) help James understand his natural subjects as well as to carry on the tradition of 19th century artists whose images helped to establish the first national parks. He also lends his art background to his work as a summer seasonal Yosemite ranger/naturalist as he has for the past 21 Summers. His primary objective in painting is to help inspire love and protection of our national parks and environment as a whole.
Artist Collection: James-McGrew
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James prefers to paint directly from life and often works up to about 30x40 en plein air. However, he creates his most refined and largest paintings in the studio from his plein air references. He hikes or backpacks several hundred miles a year, looking for unique perspectives and a deeper connection with nature.
When painting in nature without digital societal distractions, all my senses heighten and I work in a state of mindfulness, fully aware of not just the scene before me, but all my surroundings and everything I see, hear, smell, feel, from the wind or sun on my skin to the emotions created by the experience. I conduct that inspiration into each decisive and interpretive brushstroke.”
James McGrew, from “Mindful Altitudes: Paintings by James McGrew 2024.
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James McGrew
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Aurora Borealis Over Crater Lake, May 10, 2024
James McGrew
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Education
James has degrees in biology, chemistry and geology, and has done graduate work for an M.S. in Environmental Education
Selected Exhibitions
McGrew’s paintings hang in collections around the world and have shown in numerous solo shows, national and international exhibitions and plein-air invitationals.
- 11-12/2021 Group Show, Beloved California. Holton Studio Gallery.
- 10/2021 Presentation for the California Art Club
- 9/2021 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art.
- 12/2020 Legacy Gallery 20th Anniversary Small Works Invitational
- 11/2020 American Impressionist Society National Exhibition, St. George UT.
- 11/2020 Holton Studio Gallery Beloved CA Group Show
- 9/2020 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
- 2-4/2020 Solo Show, The Ansel Adams Gallery
- 11/2019 Zion Centennial Celebration of Art Invitational.
- 10/2019 Presentation for the California Art Club in Yosemite.
- 10/2018 Solo Show, The Ansel Adams Gallery
- 9/2018 Inaugural Yellowstone Plein Air Invitational
- 9/2018 10th Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
- 6/2018 California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition
- 11/2017 Featured artist at Zion Plein Air Art Invitational
- 11/2017 Group Exhibit, Beloved CA II, Holton Studio Gallery, Berkeley, CA.
- 10/2017 Solo Show, Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite, CA
- 10/2017 Laguna Plein Air Invitational
- 11-12/2016 Signature Impressions (LPAPA Signature Member exhibition), Huntington Beach, CA.
- 11-12/2016 "Beloved California" Group show at Holton Studio Gallery, Berkeley, CA.
- 10/2016: Laguna Plein Air Painters Invitational
- 8-10/2016 Hawaii National Parks Centennial Museum Exhibition, Maui, HI.
- 5-6/2016 Solo Show, Ansel Adams Gallery
- 2/2016 National Parks Centennial Exhibition, St. George Museum, UT.
- 2/2016 Yosemite Renaissance, Yosemite Museum, CA
- 10/2015 Howard Mandville Gallery Small Works Invitational
- 5/2015 Solo Show, James J. Rieser Fine Art, Carmel, CA
- 5/2015 CA Impressionism; Plein Air painting Past and Present exhibit with Irvine Museum, De Ru’s, HBAC, and Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc. Huntington Beach, CA
- 2015 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, St. Augustine, FL
- 10/2014 Laguna Plein Air Invitational.
- 10/2014 American Impressionist Society National Exhibit
- 12/2013 Legacy Gallery Small works invitational (sold out).
- 10/2013 Howard/Mandville Gallery Small works Invitational
- 2013 Presenter and solo show, California EMC, Yosemite, CA.
- 2013 Howard Mandville Gallery, Annual Holiday Small works invitational.
- 2012 Debra Huse Gallery International Salon.
- 2012 Howard Mandville Gallery, Holiday Small works invitational.
- 2012 CA Gems - group show. Knowlton Gallery, Lodi, CA
- 2012 Tahoe Summerfest group exhibition. Incline Village, NV
- 2012 Four person group show, Mtn. Park Gallery. Lake Oswego, OR
- 2011 Group Show; Mtn. Park Gallery, Lake Oswego, OR
- 2011 Invitational Small works, Howard Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
- 2011 American Impressionist Society's National Exhibition, Carmel, CA.
- 2011 Three person group show at Caswell Gallery, Troutdale, OR
- 2010 Sierra Foothill Conservancy Plein Air Invitational (painting on cover of brochure/invitations/poster).
- 2010 Pacific Northwest Plein Air. Hood River, OR
- 2009 Holiday Miniatures Invitational, Howard Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
- 2009 Oil Painters of America, Howard Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
- 2008, Solo show of 50 paintings at the Lawrence Gallery, Portland OR.
- 2004 Solo Show, Lawrence Gallery, Portland
- 2003 Arts For the Parks top 100 and Mini 50, Jackson Hole, WY
- 2002 True Miniature Invitational, Lawrence Gallery, Sheridan, OR.
- 2002 Solo Show, Mariposa County Arts Council Gallery
- 2001 Solo Show, The Ahwahnee, Yosemite, CA
- 2000 Yosemite Renaissance. Yosemite Museum. (people's choice)
- 2000 Solo Show, The Ahwahnee, Yosemite, CA
- 1999 Solo show at Blue Heron Gallery, Ashland, OR
Selected Honors And Awards
- 10/2021 First Place, Main Street Paint Out, Sedona Plein Air.
- 12/2020 Art Renewal Center ARC Salon Finalist in three categories (world's largest representational art competition).
- 5/2020 Best Western Award, Plein Air Magazine's 10th Annual Plein Air Salon.
- 2/2020 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational: Best in Show (Awarded by Jean Stern), Honor Hawai'i/Honor Maui Award, Collector's Choice Award, Makana Aloha Foundation Award, Mary Ann Fitch, Nam Le Viet Ray Chin Hawai'i Life-Christie's 2020 award.
- 2/2020 Completed large commission for the Sacramento Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints.
- 10/2019 Sedona Plein Air: Collector's Choice Award, 1st Place, Mariposa Paint out and Judge's award of Merit.
- 9/2019 Auction highest sale (for the 6th time) Grand Canyon Celebration of Art.
- 7/2019 Art Renewal Center, ARC Salon Finalist
- 11/2018 People's Choice Award and Purchase award, Zion Plein Air Art Invitational
- 10/2018 Collector's Choice Award and Judge's Choice, Sedona Plein Air
- 6/2018 California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition
- 1/2018 13th Annual ARC Salon finalist.
- 11/2017 People's Choice Award at Zion Plein Air Art Invitational
- 10/2017 Seven Canyons Paint out Award at Sedona Plein Air.
- 9/2017 People's choice award and record auction price at 9th annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
- 7/2017 Honorable Mention from Scott Jones and purchase award by Jackson Hole Airport; Plein Air for the Park/Grand Teton plein air.
- 2/2017 Honor Hawaii/Honor Maui award, Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational.
- 4/2016 Stage presenter and demo artist at 2016 Plein Air Convention, Tucson, AZ.
- 11/2016 Zion Plein Air Invitational; Foundation Award (top honor) & People's Choice Awd.
- 10/2016: Sedona Plein Air. Seven Canyons/Gamblin Award.
- 9/2016 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art; People's Choice Award & highest record auction
- 6/2016 50x80 and 60x40 Commissions completed for the prestigious Stoller Estate Winery
- 2/2016 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational (Honor Hawaii/Honor Maui Award and Montage Kapalua Award).
- 10/2015 Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational (Higbee Award)
- 11/2015 Zion Plein Air Invitational (People’s Choice and 5 purchase awards)
- 9/2015 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art/Plein air (People’s Choice and highest Sales at Auction) 11/2015 Yosemite Impressions Group Exhibition. Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite, CA
- 11/2014 Zion Plein Air Invitational. Two purchase Awards.
- 10/2014. Sedona Plein Air Invitational. Merit Award (judge Jim McVicker).
- 9/2014 6th annual Grand Canyon Celebration of art. People's Choice Award.
- 5/2014 Carmel Art Festival. People's Choice Award and Honorable Mention.
- 9/2013 5th annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. Best of Show & People's Choice awards.
- 2011 Oregon Lavender Festival Plein Air. (Second place).
- 2011 Caswell Plein Air Competition. Troutdale, OR (Silver Medal)
- 2011 Lake Oswego Chronicles Invitational Exhibit (Honorable mention)
- 2002 Lake Oswego International Miniature exhibition, Lake Oswego, OR. (1st place in pastel and 2nd place overall).
- 2000 Yosemite Renaissance. Yosemite Museum. (People's choice)
Selected Collections And Publications
James’ work has been featured in articles of Fine Art Connoisseur, Plein Air Magazine, Southwest Art, and Western Art Collector.
- Feature Article by Steve Doherty in Plein Air Magazine (April/May 2016 digital edition)
- Western Art Collector, December 2015
- Today’s Masters Paint the Parks; article in Fine Art Connoisseur, July/Aug 2014
- Southwest Art. by Bonnie Gangelhoff. April 2014.
- 12/2019 Sunset Magazine quote in article "Voices of the West; Zion at 100."
FIlm:
- World Premier of Forever is Now film featuring James, Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival, Nov 2020
- 1/2019 Featured in premier of Zion National Park's new film.
- 2004 Work featured in Yosemite Lightdances DVD by Sterling Johnson.
Teaching
James has presented as a keynote speaker at numerous art and science conferences and presented on stage and as a field painter at Plein Air Convention, 2016, Tucson. When teaching workshops, James interweaves art and science in an entertaining manner easy to understand and he has volunteered countless hours teaching art history in elementary through high schools.
Associated Contributions And Experience
James is an avid backpacker, hiker, and volunteers as a seasonal ranger in Yosemite National Park. He loves to go painting and fly fishing with his family.
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Explore James Photographs
James McGrew
Gallery Represented Artist
Represented Artist
Aurora Borealis Over Crater Lake, May 10, 2024
James McGrew
James McGrew
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