James Loveless Jr. graduated with a B.F.A. from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1978. He currently has active memberships in The Oil Painters of America, the American Plains Artists and the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society. He is represented by Dutch Art Gallery and Western.Gallery. He has worked as a graphic designer, package designer and illustrator; some of his clients include: FedEx, Ralston Purina, Anheuser Busch, Six Flags over Mid-America, Alka-Seltzer, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. After freelancing as an illustrator, he opened Loveless Galleries and his family of five; created custom framing, sold prints and painted portrait commissions. In 2022, Loveless was honored to be included in the National Oil Painters of America and Who’s Who in America. Loveless has studied with Martin Grelle, John Buxton and Bruce Greene. James sells western art originals, limited editions and completes private commissions. He began to draw and paint memories of his childhood spent with his ranching grandfather and Native American grandmother. Loveless’ subjects include painting the relationships of women, African Americans, Native Americans and Mexican Americans in the development of the old west.
Awards and Prizes:
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Fall International Online Exhibition – 2022
Dutch Art Gallery – Second Place Award “Fresh Off The Easel” – 2022
Bosque Art Classic – 2022
Oil Painters of America National Exhibition – 2022
Top 10 Finalist New Western Talent Show of Western Gallery – 2022
2022 – Who’s Who in America as a Fine Artist
2022 – Pearce Museum Purchase Award for Permanent Collection
2022 – Published in Art of the West Magazine
2022 – Pearce Museum Texas Invitational Exhibition
2021 – Oil Painters of America Third Place Spring Online Showcase
2021 – National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Exhibition Entry
2021 – Pearce Museum Texas Invitational Exhibition
2020 -Bosque Classic Art Show National Exhibition
2019 – Boldbrush Painting Competition Top 15% FAV Exhibition – September
2020 – Boldbrush Painting Competition Top 15% FAV Exhibition – August
2019 – Boldbrush Painting Competition Top 15% FAV Exhibition – July
2019 – Boldbrush Painting Competition Top 15% FAV Exhibition – July
2019 – Boldbrush Painting Competition Top 15% FAV Exhibition – May
2019 – Boldbrush Painting Competition Top 15% FAV Exhibition – March
2015 – Texas Visual Art Association; Honorable Mention
2015 – Allen Arts Festival; Published in the Star Local Media
2013 – Lake Granbury Art Association; Honorable Mention
2012 – Park Cities Presbyterian Church National Exhibition People’s Choice Award, Dallas, TX
2012 – Oil Painters Of America; Spring Online Exhibition
2006 – National Exhibition, San Bernadino, CA
2003 – Published in Ebony Magazine; Johnson Publications
2002 – Portfolio Gallery; The Visions Show, St. Louis, MO
2000 – Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts to initiate the first prison artist program in the state of Illinois
1998 – For the Children Art Fair – Best of Show
1976 – Regional University and College Designer Merit Award
2002 – Art Expo International Exhibition; New York, NY
2000 – Portfolio Gallery; The Visions Show; St. Louis, MO
2001 – Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts
2001 – Portfolio Gallery; Epiphany “An Invitational”; St. Louis, MO
2001 – Diversity Gallery; An Exhibition of Art
1998 – For The Children Art Fair; Best of Show; St. Louis, MO
1996 – Vaughn Cultural Center; Group Show; St. Louis, MO
Statement
Loveless says, “I want to express more than aesthetic beauty alone and I want to amplify the aspirations of all Americans that have contributed to make this country one of the greatest ever.”
I have been interested in the life of Native Americans because of my ancestry. When I was a little boy, I would ride bareback and sometimes travel to see my grandfather in rodeos in Oklahoma and Arkansas; it was an awesome experience. I have been fortunate to gain the assistance from the Texas Civil War Museum. Their historians assist me in insuring all the artifacts in my paintings are authentic.