Jim Bob was born in 1940 in Decatur, Texas the county seat of Wise. Jim Bob grew up as an oil field brat, as his dad followed the oil boom town jobs in the 1940’s. In the late 40’s and into his teen years, Jim Bob attended school in Ropes, Texas. He tended chores on the small family farm in Ropes. His grandmother Abertia Ann Swafford was the first to settled on the 160-acre farm in Ropesville “Ropes” in the early 1920s. Jim Bob’s father graduated from Ropes high school.
Jim Bob’s first cousin Max Evans, who also grew up on the same farm as Jim Bob was the one who introduced him to art. In the late 1940s and early 1950s Max Evans was living and working as an artist in Taos, New Mexico. Taos was a thriving art community. It was at this time Jim Bob visited and stayed with Max. Max introduced him to some of the great artists of that time, all influencing him in becoming an artist. Max later gave up art for writing and storytelling. Max died at the age of 95. Up to the time Max died Jim Bob and Max faithfully wrote letters to each other.
Jim Bob’s first art award was at graduation from high school where he was honored as the Art Student of the year. Other awards followed throughout Jim Bob’s career. Leanin’ Tree, Inc. in Boulder, Colorado has published many of Jim Bob’s artwork on their products. Jim Bob has been the featured artist in the “Western Horseman” magazine as well as featured on the cover of the “Rocky Mountain Rider” magazine. Invitational art shows include “Artist of the West” in Colorado Springs, Colorado and “Artist West of the Concho” in San Angelo, Texas. National exhibit includes “Top 100 exhibit Arts for the Parks” in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Jim Bob was the featured artist in Spring 2014 of "The Western Associates" Western Heritage Preserved in Fine Art, and his artwork was selected for the “Images of American” the Nations Calendar. Premier commissions include a painting of the three grandnieces to the Queen of Thailand, Rodeo stars, and a painting of the Westminster Dog Show national champion German shorthair. Celebrity clients owning Jim Bob’s art includes Doug Gresham the stepson of C.S. Lewis and producer of the Narnia films, Jeff Wolf artist, and the Buddy Holly family.
Swafford studied art at Lubbock Christian University and Abilene Christian University and graduated with a BA degree with a major in art. After a successful career in business and extensive world travel Swafford became aware of the individual art styles of each area visited and how they were influenced by climate, quality of light, attitudes, and lifestyles. He has absorbed into his own style elements of what he sees as unique to the south and west of the country. Over time, Swafford’s style has moved towards stronger use of color and on emphasis on the essence of his subject matter. The artist paints southwest, landscapes, western lifestyle, cowboy life, wildlife, and floral.
Currently Jim Bob is the founder and CEO of Scandia Wind Southwest LLC based in Bovina, Texas. Scandia Wind is developing the “Mariah Wind Farm” project. He is also part owner of Stardane Solar developing solar farms in east Texas. Jim Bob and his wife Kay live in the small rural town of Bovina, Texas the old headquarters of the XIT ranch
