McElhinney, James Lancel was born on February 3, 1952 in Abington, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of James McElhinney (1918-1981) and Joan Howland Carpenter McElhinney (1922-2019). BFA Painting, Tyler School of Art of Temple University. Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture; MFA Painting, Yale University.
Scholarship student, Skowhegan School Painting and Sculp, Maine, 1973. Bachelor of Fine Arts, Temple University, 1974. Master of Fine Arts, Yale University, 1976.
Assistant professor Moore College Art, Philadelphia, 1977-1978, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, 1979-1987. Instructor Milwaukee Institute Art and Design, 1991-1993. Visiting artist East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, 1994-1998.
Head painting and drawing program visual arts department University Colorado, Denver, 1998—2003. Visiting associate professor Pratt Institute, New York City, since 2004. Adjunct instructor University of California at Los Angeles, 1983, Moore College Art, 1983, Tyler School Art, Philadelphia, 1983—1986, University Arts, 1985—1989.
Artist in residence Harper's Ferry National History Park, 1999. Director study abroad program Feltre, Veneto, Italy, 2000—2002. Speaker @ United States Air Force Academy, National Character & Leadership Symposium 2001.
Visiting Associate Professor of Drawing, Pratt Institute: 2004-2015. Faculty Art Students League New York, 2005-2016, coordinator apprentice program, 2007. Lecturer in field; lecturer New York History Society, 2006, National Academy Design. Visiting lecturer Central Michigan University, New York History Society, 2007, Hudson River School Painting, 2007, University Iowa Graduate School Art, 2008. Public Speaking: US Capitol, Historical Society, 2017. Indepoendence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia 2018, FDR Presidential Library 2019, Hudson River Museum 2019. Olana State Historic Sitre 2019
Volunteer Richmond (Virginia) National Battlefield Park, since 1991, Living History Team Corps of Discovery, United States Army Corps. of Engineers Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, Topographical engineering National Regiment, 1996-2000, Brigade American Revolution, since 2008. Member College Art Association, Sons of the American Revolution, Civil War Preservation Trust, Metropolitan Museum Art, Museum of Modern Art, Foote Family Associate.
Married Victoria Maria Dávila, September 12, 1981 (divorced), Married Katherine E. Menthorne, August 22, 2006.
