About James W. Bruce, Jr. -
Jim is a signature member of Oil Painters of America.  He lives and works in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Although the pursuit of a business career kept Jim from a full measure of devotion to painting, the love of art and most particularly of the subtle character of Tonalism found in the art of many American artists in the early 20th century has been where his heart has been.  He has pursued the poetry of Tonalism since learning of its concepts and seeing the art of those early American painters who pursued this approach.  We trust that these images will brighten your day.

Jim Bruce has painted most of his 67 years. He started art lessons in Ardmore, Oklahoma when he was fourteen, studying with Faye Burnett Baker a prominent local artist. But the real love for art started a year or so later when he took a summer workshop from noted Oklahoma artist, the late Richard V. Goetz. Becoming a lifelong friend and mentor, Goetz instilled in Jim a love for still life painting and color. "Dick taught me basically how to see - how to see color and the beauty of putting objects together in harmony and design to create the overall mood I wanted to achieve. The focus on 'painting what you see' which Dick engendered has always set the creative tone for me."

Art became the means for "nourishing the soul" and banking became the life work. With a focus on developing his own style, Jim has also studied with a number of nationally recognized artists besides Goetz, including the late Henry Hensche, Scott Christensen, Kevin Macpherson, David Leffel, Sherrie McGraw, John Budicin and George Strickland.

"I've learned so much from all of these fine artists. At the same time, I am influenced by the great American tonalist painters. The harmony and subtle color range of tonalist paintings has been something for which I have strived ever since seeing the Tonalism exhibition organized by Grand Central Art Galleries of New York in 1982. The painting Landscape with Avenue of Trees by Eduard Steichen has been a significant influence. For me, the challenge of painting is to set the mood of the scene through color, form and edges, all working together in harmony to convey that mood to the observer."

Bruce has won a number of awards, including selection as a guest artist for the Plein Air Painters of America's 13th Annual Catalina Island Show and Sale held in November 1998. He won an Award of Merit in the Scottsdale Artists' School juried exhibition, The Brightest and Best, 1998, for his painting "Wyoming Grandeur" and Best of Show in the Oklahoma Art Guild's Members' Exhibition in 1996 for his still life entitled "Three Sisters". In addition, his paintings have won numerous awards in other Oklahoma Art Guild exhibitions, including two awards in the 2002 Regional Exhibition - equal merit for his landscape "Lake Marie" and honorable mention for his still life "Darlin' Clementines" - and first place in oils in the 1996 Regional Exhibition and 1990 Regional Exhibition, third place in oils in the 1991 Regional Exhibition and other honorable mention citations. In addition, Bruce has been selected to exhibit in the Gilcrease Museum "American Art in Miniature" exhibitions held in Tulsa, Oklahoma for the past several years and he has exhibited in several Oil Painters of America national exhibitions.

Bruce is a signature member of Oil Painters of America. The Howell Gallery of Oklahoma City represents his paintings. In his business life, Bruce is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, American Bank Systems, Inc., a bank service company located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Bruce is a native Oklahoman. He is a member of the Board of Directors of American Bank & Trust Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma and InvesTrust Company, NA of Oklahoma City. He also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, the Texas Presbyterian Foundation and serves on the Executive Boards of Oklahoma City University's Meinders School of Business Administration and the Bass School of Music. He is President and a member of the Board of Directors of Canterbury Choral Society of Oklahoma City. He resides in Oklahoma City with his wife, Betty.