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James King Bonnar
'Harbor Scene'

James King Bonnar was born in North Adams, MA in 1885 and lived in Newtonville, MA. He graduated from the Massachusetts School of Art where is teachers included Joseph DeCamp and Ernest Major. He was popular as an art teacher and demonstrator. Bonnar was best known for his marine paintings and winter harbor scenes of Vermont and New Hampshire, and for his murals that grace private homes and institutions.

In 1949 Bonnar founded the Newton Art Association, which is now in its 58th year. He was the president of the Copley Society in Boston and the Business Men’s Art Club of Boston, as well as a member of the so-called Rockport School of artists along with Emile Gruppe, Aldo T. Hibbard, Anthony Thieme, and others.

For many years he exhibited at the North Shore Arts Association, the Newton Art Association and the Rockport Art Association.

In April 2003, his family inaugurated the annual Founders Award for artistic achievement to honor James King Bonnar.