James "Jim" Daniel Torlakson (born February 19, 1951), is an American artist known for his photorealist oil paintings, watercolors and aquatint intaglio etchings. He is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Born in San Francisco, California on February 19, 1951, he grew up in the Westlake neighborhood of Daly City. Torlakson moved to Pacifica by the sea in 1971 where he has lived since becoming a professional artist. He started drawing at an early age, encouraged by his parents, who entered a drawing of his in the San Francisco Chronicle "Daily Junior Art Champion" when he was six years old; he was awarded first prize.

He was also inspired by artist George Post, a Californian watercolor painter, who was his grandparents'...