After graduating in 1982 from Art Center College of Design in California , James E.Tennison began his art career as a free-lance illustrator. For several years he created illustrations for various clients, including Bantam Books, Federal Express and IBM. He was awarded Gold and Silver Medals from the New York Society of Illustrators, the Dallas Society of Visual Communications and the Dallas Illustrators Society.

Tennison's paintings have been exhibited in galleries throughout the United States, including the Museum of American Illustration and the Salmagundi Club in New York City , the Greenwich Workshop Gallery in Connecticut, the Wichita Art Association Center for the Arts, Altermann & Morris Gallery in Dallas and Gallery Americana in Carmel, California.

James now devotes much of his time to painting portraits. His portrait commissions have taken him across the United States and to England . His works include the official portrait of the former Texas Governor, Ann Richards, for the State Capitol in Austin. He has been commissioned to paint portraits for the National Cancer Institute, Southern Methodist University, Texas Instruments and Frito Lay. He has also painted many portraits for families.

Two of Tennison's portraits are included in the North Light Books publication entitled The Best of Portrait Painting . His work has also been featured in International Artist Magazine . James has received the First Honor Award and People's Choice Award from the Portrait Society of America.

James is a member of the Portrait Society of America and Oil Painters of America.