James Van Fossan, b. 1964. Resides in Fruita, Colorado.Since leaving the corporate world to focus on his art full time eighteen years ago, the self taught Van Fossan has come to command some of the highest recognitions in realism. James Van Fossan began his oilpainting career studying with Duffy Sheridan. "He was responsible for getting me started in oil painting and was hugely influential and inspirational, and still is. He is a model of discipline and excellence. Although I only spent roughly 20 hours in his studio watching him work and listening to his views on beauty and painting, I will always hear his voice in my head as I paint. I am forever thankful for that opportunity".​James' 2015 masterpiece Drama Magnifico was purchased in 2020 and is currently being considered for public display. His 2012 painting, Magnum Opus, claimed the coveted Chairman's Choice Award in the 2012/2013 International Art Renewal Center Salon, as well as the Best of Show prize for the The Collection Beaux-Arts Réaliste International Competition (Montreal, Canada) in 2014. His work has been featured in American Art Collector, International Artist Magazine, Southwest Art, Western Art Collector, LUXE Magazine as well as other art and lifestyle publications. Van Fossan is also represented in the permanent collection of the European Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona, Spain.