About the Artist
James McGrew
Sharing the beauty and wonders of Nature.
Bio:
James McGrew first backpacked in Yosemite at just four months old. Subsequent family trips inspired an early interest in art and nature as he was constantly drawing and painting. He began using soft pastels at age 8 and oils at 10. Today he is best known for his oil paintings interpreting western National Parks and endangered species. A strong background in natural sciences (degrees in biology, chemistry and geology and grad work for a masters in Environmental Education) help James understand his natural subjects as well as to carry on the tradition of 19th century artists whose images helped establish our first national parks. He also lent his art background to his work as a summer seasonal Yosemite ranger/naturalist for twenty-five summers. His primary objective in painting is to help inspire love and protection of our national parks and environment as a whole.
James prefers to paint direct from life and creates his larger 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. He works to create paintings which not only visually portray a scene, but convey the emotions of the actual experience. Although inspired by a combination of Romanticism and Impressionism, McGrew paints with a style uniquely his own.
McGrew’s paintings hang in collections around the world including the Art Renewal Center's permanent collection and have shown in numerous solo shows, national and international exhibitions, museums and plein air invitationals, receiving many awards including best of show at Grand Canyon Celebration of Art and Maui Plein Air Invitational, the Zion Foundation Award, Plein Air Salon awards, and many People’s/Collector's Choice Awards at California Art Club (CAC) Gold Medal exhibition, Grand Canyon Celebration of Art, Zion Art Invitational, Sedona, Carmel, Maui Plein Air Invitational and others. He is an out of state artist member of the California Art Club and a signature member of the American Impressionist Society and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. His work has been featured in articles of Fine Art Connoisseur, Plein Air Magazine, Southwest Art, and Western Art Collector. He is featured in several films including We the Keepers playing in the Zion National Park museum theater, Yosemite Lightdances and Yosemite Peregrines; A Story of Hope. He authored the chapter about Yosemite art history in the book The Nature of Yosemite and presented as keynote speaker at numerous art and science conferences and presented as faculty at Plein Air Convention, 2016 and 2025. 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.
Artist’s Statement
“I strive to interpret nature with my brush, not just representing a visual scene, but more importantly, conveying the emotions I felt as influenced by the experience including weather and light, movement and energy. I want the viewer to feel those elements and emotions. I hope my works inspire others to love and protect our natural world and cherish our valuable human interrelationships with each other and the environment.”
Recent Exhibitions and Honors:
1/2026 18th ARC Salon MacAvoy Purchase Award, Permanent Collection of the Art Renewal Center.
11/2025 Zion Art Invitational, Zion National Park
11/2025 Beloved California X, Holton Studio Gallery, Berkeley, CA
9/2025 Artists for Conservation annual international exhibition.
9/2025 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
5/2025 Faculty, Plein Air Convention, Reno/Tahoe NV
11/24 Art Renewal Center ARC Salon Finalist
11/24 Beloved CA IX annual group exhibit at Holton Studio Gallery, Berkeley
11/24 Zion Plein Air Art Invitational
9/29/24-11/16/24 Solo Show, The Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite National Park, CA
9/24 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
8/20/24-10/26/24 California Art Club 113th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition
6/29-8/3/24 California Wildflowers, Group exhibit at Holton Gallery, Berkeley
11/23 Beloved CA VIII annual group exhibit at Holton Studio Gallery, Berkeley
9/23 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
7-9/23 California Art Club's 112th annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Bower's Museum, Santa Ana
11/22 Art Renewal Center ARC Salon finalist.
11-12/22 Beloved CA VII group exhibit at Holton Studio Gallery.
9/22-1/23 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
7-9/22 California Art Club's 111th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Bower's Museum, Santa Ana
2-4/2022 Solo Show, The Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite, CA
1/2022 Featured in Article, Plein Air Magazine. p46-53
11-12/2021 Group Show, Beloved California. Holton Studio Gallery.
10/2021 First Place, Main Street Paint Out, Sedona Plein Air.
10/2021 Presentation for the California Art Club
9/2021 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. Set new record at on line auction.
7-9/2021 California Art Club's 110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition - Hilbert Museum of California Art. Art Lover's Choice Award
12/2020 Art Renewal Center ARC Salon Finalist in three categories (world's largest representational art competition).
12/2020 Legacy Gallery 20th Anniversary Small Works Invitational
11/2020 World Premier of Forever is Now film featuring James, Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
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 - Top selling price at auction.
5/2020 Best Western Award, Plein Air Magazine's 10th Annual Plein Air Salon.
3/2020 Best Water 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.
2-4/2020 Solo Show, The Ansel Adams Gallery
2/2020 Completed large commission for the Sacramento Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints.
1/2019 Featured in premier of Zion National Park's new film.
12/2019 Sunset Magazine "Voices of the West; Zion at 100."
11/2019 Zion Centennial Celebration of Art Invitational.
10/2019 Sedona Plein Air: Collector's Choice Award, 1st Place, Mariposa Paint out and Judge's award of Merit.
10/2019 Presentation for the California Art Club in Yosemite.
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 Solo Show, The Ansel Adams Gallery
10/2018 Collector's Choice Award and Judge's Choice, Sedona Plein Air
9/2018 Inaugural Yellowstone Plein Air Invitational
9/2018 10th Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
6/2018 California Art Club 107 annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Natural History Museum, Los Angeles
1/2018 13th Annual ARC Salon finalist.
11/2017 Featured artist at Zion Plein Air Art Invitational
11/2017 People's Choice Award 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 Seven Canyons Paint out Award at Sedona Plein Air.
10/2017 Laguna Plein Air Invitational
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.
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.
11/2016 Zion Plein Air Invitational; Foundation Award (top honor) & People's Choice Awd.
10/2016: Sedona Plein Air. Seven Canyons/Gamblin Award.
10/2016: Laguna Plein Air Painters Invitational
9/2016 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art; People's Choice Award & highest record auction
8-10/2016 Hawaii National Parks Centennial Museum Exhibition, Maui, HI.
4/2016 Stage presenter and demo artist at 2016 Plein Air Convention, Tucson, AZ.
5-6/2016 Solo Show, Ansel Adams Gallery
6/2016 50x80 and 60x40 Commissions completed for the owners of prestigeous Stoller Estate Winery
2/2016 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational (Honor Hawaii/Honor Maui Award and Montage Kapalua Award).
2/2016 National Parks Centennial Exhibition, St. George Museum, UT.
2/2016 Yosemite Renaissance, Yosemite Museum, CA
10/2015 Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational (Higbee Award)
11/2015 Zion Plein Air Invitational (People’s Choice and 5 purchase awards)
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
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
2015 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, St. Augustine, FL
11/2014 Zion Plein Air Invitational. Two purchase Awards.
10/2014. Sedona Plein Air Invitational. Merit Award (judge Jim McVicker).
10/2014 Laguna Plein Air Invitational.
10/2014 American Impressionist Society National Exhibit
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 (Judge John Burton).
12/2013 Legacy Gallery Small works invitational (sold out).
10/2013 Howard/Mandville Gallery Small works Invitational
9/2013 5th annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. Best of Show & People's Choice awards. Sold out show with record high sales.
Full list dating back to James’ first solo show in 1999 available upon request.
Select Magazine Article Publications:
Article by Kelly Kane, Plein Air Magazine, Jan-Feb, 2022
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
Select Notable Collections, Commissions and Clients:
William and Valerie Anders; Astronaut, pilot and photographer of "Earthrise" photo from Apollo 8.
George and Linda Seifert; 5X Super Bowl Champion, San Francisco 49ers
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Temple Commission)
Bill and LaRue Stoller/Stoller Family Estate
The National Park Service
BBC Wildlife
National Geographic
Oregon Ballet Theatre
Grand Canyon Conservancy
Yosemite Conservancy
Zion National Park Forever Project
Notes on materials:
James uses oil paints made in the USA including: M.Graham made in Oregon using California walnut oil, Natural Pigments made in Northern California, each with the highest available quality, densely pigmented colors with maximum lightfastness. He only uses colors with non toxicity labels (no cadmiums, lead, cobalt, manganese, mercury, etc.) for environmental health and personal safety. His frames and painting panel substrates are made in the U.S.A. by small businesses with exceptional quality. In effort to minimize impact on the environment we minimize the use of resources, reuse and recycle whenever possible.
