James Crandall OPAM
After a long career as a concept illustrator in the advertising and motion-picture industry, James Crandall has shifted his focus to traditional easel painting. He finds subject matter in everyday life, and is always looking for an intriguing play of light, or the unstaged gestures of people at work and at play. An ongoing series of paintings depicts life in his maternal grandfather’s hometown of Lucca in northern Tuscany, where he regularly visits. Recent work also includes scenes from the rural backroads of California’s Gold Country, where he and his wife Nancy make their home. In 2020 he launched a YouTube channel where he shares insights and tips for fellow painters.
He is a Master Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America and a Signature member of the American Impressionist Society.
Website: jamescrandall.com
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesCrandallPainting
Education:
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California 1978-1981 (BFA, Awarded with Distinction)
University of California, Los Angeles, 1975-1977
Recent Exhibitions and Awards:
2020 ADI Top 5 Most Awarded Artist Rating (4th)
2020 American Impressionist Society 21st National Exhibition
2018 1st Place, Master Class, ArtMuse Contest, October (Judge: Carol Marine)
2018 Finalist, BoldBrush Art Competition, October (Juror: Robert Lemler)
2018 2nd Annual American Impression Society Small Work Showcase, Cincinnati, OH
2018 40th Annual Crocker Museum Art Auction, Sacramento, CA
2017 Award of Excellence, Master Division, OPA Eastern Regional, St. Simons Island, GA
2017 President’s Choice Award, American Impressionist Society’s National Exhibition
2017 Awarded Signature Member status, American Impressionist Society
2017 Finalist, BoldBrush Art Competition, June (Juror: David Kassan)
2017 2nd Prize, BoldBrush Art Competition, May
2017 1st Place, Master Class, ArtMuse Contest, April
2017 California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition, Los Angeles
2017 Finalist, Master Class, ArtMuse Contest, February
2016 1st Place, Master Class, ArtMuse Contest, October
2016 Award of Excellence, Masters Division, OPA Western Regional, Scottsdale, AZ
2016 Gold Medal, Masters Division, Oil Painters of America’s Salon, Fort Wayne, IN
2016 Award of Merit, American Impressionist Society National, Kirkland, WA
2016 Finalist, Boldbrush Art Competition, January & December
2015 Awarded Master Signature status, Oil Painters of America, December 2015
2015 2nd Prize, Signature division, Oil Painters of America Online Showcase, Fall 2015
2015 Judge, BoldBrush Art Competition, July 2015
2015 Finalist, RayMar Art Competition (January & February)
2014 Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of American Western Regional
2014 Finalist, RayMar Art Competition (July and October)
2014 Award of Excellence, Paso Artsfest, Paso Robles, California (Juror: Quang Ho)
2014 Finalist, Boldbrush Competition (April)
2013 1st Place, Signature division, Oil Painters of America Fall Online Showcase
2013 Solo Exhibition, Lee Youngman Galleries, Calistoga, CA
2013 Finalist, RayMar Art Competition (February, August)
2013 California Art Club’s Gold Medal Exhibition
2013 2nd Place, Boldbrush Painting Competition (June)
2013 2nd Place, Boldbrush Painting Competition (May)
2013 Finalist, RayMar Fine Art Competition, February 2013 (Juror: Nancy Guzik)
2012 3rd Prize, Oil Painters of America Spring Online Showcase
2012 Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas (Jury’s Top 50)
2012 Finalist, RayMar Art Fine Competition (January, March, September, November)
2012 Finalist, Bold Brush Art Competition, (January, September)
2012 Judge, BoldBrush Art Competition, December 2011
2011 BoldBrush Art Competiton, August 2011, (Best of Show Award)
2011 RayMar Art Fine Art Competition, 2010-2011, (Finalist [Top 12 of the Year] Award)
2011 Oil Painters of America’s 20th Annual National, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (Portraiture Award of Excellence)
2011 Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas (Jury’s Top Fifty)