James Michael paints traditional, transparent, representational watercolors. He is a member of the American Watercolor Society, the Wisconsin Watercolor Society and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America (Master).

He has exhibited in the Rocky Mountain National, the Adirondacks National, the Western Colorado Watercolor Society, the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society and the American Watercolor Society (2002-CFS Medal).

His home and studio are in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.