James R. Hopkins (American 1877-1969) was born in Irwin, Ohio in 1877.  His mother, Nettie Hopkins, was a self-taught watercolor artist.  The young boy became enamored with his mother’s profession, and later decided to follow in her footsteps.  He left his electrical engineering studies at Ohio State University to pursue art at the Columbus Art School.  After graduation, Hopkins spent two years in Cincinnati painting with Frank Duveneck, who was the head of the Art Academy.  Hopkins then went on to New York City for two years to become an illustrator.  By 1902, he was ready to travel to Paris to study.  There he enrolled in the Academy Colorossi.  Many of the French Impressionists were still active in Paris, and Hopkins spent many hours visiting the studios of Renoir, Degas, and Monet.  These artists had a significant impact on Hopkins, and many aspects of Impressionism were retained throughout his career.

In 1904, Hopkins returned to the United States and married Edna Boies, who was also an artist.  The couple traveled abroad and circulated with artists and intellects from around the world; they were invited to participate in numerous exhibitions.

World War I force the Hopkins family to return to Cincinnati where James joined the staff of the Art Academy.  He later became an enlisted officer in the Army, and instructed students in painting camouflage on range finders.  When Frank Duveneck died in 1919, Hopkins was appointed to be the head of the academy.  His paintings of Appalachia and Cumberland mountain people were his most famous works.  Throughout his life, he and his wife returned to Paris often, where he painted women of the upper class.  Hopkins died in 1969 in Irwin, Ohio.

Studied

Columbus Art School; Art Academy of Cincinnati with Meakin; Cincinnati

Art Club with Duveneck; Academy Colorossi, Paris; Ohio State University

Member

ANA; Assoc. Societe Nat. des Beaux-Arts

Exhibited

AIC; CM; Atlanta AA; Univ. Kentucky Art Mus.; Salon Society des Beaux Arts;

Nat’l Academy of Design; Int. Art Exhibition, Venice; Ohio State Mus; Pan-Pac.

References

WW59; WW47; Jones and Weber, The Kentucky Painter from the Frontier

Era to the Great War, 55; Falk, Exh. Record Series