
Kosvanec Biography
Jim Kosvanec was born in Lincoln, Rhode Island and raised
in Kennebunk, Maine. Art was his passion since a very young age.
By ten, he was enrolled in weekend adult classes for figure drawing
and oil painting at Rhode Island School of Design, and in later
years, attended Butera School of Art, Rochester Institute of
Technology and the American Academy of Art.
His early art career was interrupted by the Vietnam war. He
volunteered for submarine duty and upon discharge, began a six
year stint as a successful commercial photographer. While operating
several thriving businesses in Chicago, he found time to build
a 37 foot sailboat in southern California. Over a seven year
period, he sailed tens of thousands of miles, including a transit
of the Panama Canal. It was during the last few years of his
sailing he rediscovered his art and launched back into painting
with a matured passion, divesting himself of all other business
interests.
He recently returned to the United States after residing in
the tranquil artist's community of San Miguel de Allende, in
central Mexico for thirteen years. His home and studio is in
a similarly charming village of Morro Bay in south-central California
along the coast, where he has again found an environment that
provides the perfect platform for introspection and creativity.
He paints several subjects, but feels impassioned by his figurative
work. "Having lived in Mexico, has allowed me to understand
and appreciate its ancient traditions and culture. The Mexican
and Guatemalan Indian is an endlessly patience individual possessing
great dignity. I respect these attributes and strive to capture
them in my images." After a recent voyage to China and Tibet,
he has found inspiration to paint Asian subjects as well, finding
many cultural and visual similarities.
Although Jim paints with oils, pastels and acrylics, his medium
of choice is transparent watercolor. A signature member of the
National Watercolor Society (NWS), his award-winning paintings
are part of many important private and corporate collections
in the United States, Mexico, and other countries. He teaches
workshops in the U.S., Mexico and Europe stating, "My workshops
are humorous, packed with information, non-dictatorial, and personal.
I'm teaching because I love to teach! I'm teaching because I
have something important to share!"
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Jim Kosvanec, NWS Teaching
Résumé
PERSONAL DATA:
Born in Rhode Island and raised in Kennebunk, Maine. Jim has
won numerous awards in national watercolor competitions, and
is a Signature-Elected Member of the National Watercolor Association
and an honorary member of the California Watercolor Association.
His home and studio are located in the seaside community of Morro
Bay, California. There, he paints, writes and produces video
training tapes. In his leisure time, he's an avid cyclist, golf
enthusiast and enjoys travel.
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- ART EDUCATION:
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- American Academy of Art; Chicago, IL
- Butera School of Art; Boston, MA
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- Rhode Island School of Design; Providence,
R.I.
- Rochester Institute of Technology; Rochester,
N.Y.
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- AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS:
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- Author of the book, "Transparent
Watercolor Wheel," published by Watson-Guptill
- American Artist
magazine, "Mixing Grayed Color."
- American Artist
magazine, "The Kosvanec Transparent Watercolor Wheel."
- Daniel Smith Catalogs: several articles
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- TEACHING (WORKSHOPS):
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- Arizona Watercolor Society, Phoenix, AZ
- Art In The Aspens, Aspen, CO
- Bloomington Arts Center, Bloomington, MN
- California Watercolor Association, San Francisco
- Central Coast Watercolor Soc, San Luis Obispo,
CA
- Columbia College, Chicago, IL
- Dancing Colors Art Workshops, San Diego,
CA
- Dillman's Art Center, Lac du Flambeau, WI
- East End Art League, San Juan, P.R.
- Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI
- Flying Colors Art Workshops, Acapulco, Mex
- Flying Colors International, Italy, Greece
& Prague
- Hilton Head Art League, Hilton Head, SC
- Hillcrest Art Center, Cambria, CA
- Holland Area Arts Council, Holland, MI
- Hudson River Valley Workshops, Greenville,
NY
- Idaho Watercolor Society, Boise, IA
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- Jade Fon Art Workshops, Monterey Peninsula,
CA
- Maine Coast Art Workshops, Port Clyde, ME
- Memphis/Germantown Art League, Memphis, TN
- Miami Watercolor Society, Miami, FL
- Mountain Majesty Workshops, High Rolls, NM
- New Mexico Watercolor Society, Albuquerque,
NM
- Palettes Plus, Coupeville, WA
- Quinlan Art Center, Gainesville, GA
- Red Lodge Art Center, Red Lodge, MT
- San Antonio Watercolor Group, TX
- San Diego Watercolor Society, San Diego,
CA
- Society of Watercolor Artists, Fort Worth,
TX
- Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild, Tucson,
AZ
- Southwestern Watercolor Society, Dallas,
TX
- St. Louis Artist's Guild at Oak Knoll, MO
- Utah Watercolor Society at Salt Lake City,
UT
- Watercolor Art Society of Houston, Houston,
TX
- West Tennessee Art Center, Humbolt, TN
- West Virginia Watercolor Society, WV
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- JUDGING:
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- Watercolor Art Society of Houston
- Central Coast Watercolor Society
- Memphis/Germantown Art League
- Jacksonville Watercolor Society
- New Mexico Watercolor Society
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- Idaho Watercolor Society
- San Antonio Watercolor Group
- Western Federation Annual Exhibition Tucson
- California Watercolor Association
- Miami Watercolor Society
- Southern Arizona WC Guild Tucson
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