I was born in San Francisco a few weeks before the Cuban Missile Crisis. (I wasn't yet a month old and already in a world of trouble!) I was the second child of four kids and thought of by most of my family as the strange but quiet one. After a lackluster career in High School, I went off to Junior College and later enrolled in the Academy of Art College. There at the Academy, I earned a BFA degree in Illustration.
I'm currently an Adobe Certified Expert in Adobe Illustrator 10. Though since leaving school I've used many different graphic programs for the computer;. I've recently decided to focus on creating artwork in Illustrator. Vector based art allows for the widest range of final options and usage for my work. I can create artwork without worrying that it may be too big or too small for whatever print usage I may want to do with it later. Also the smaller file sizes vector art allows for easier transfer of my work over the Internet to vendors and clients.
Big Guns
Description Model: Mellissa Yvette
To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the gradient mesh tool in Illustrator. For starters, you can't really use it for complex shapes (and the human form is a multitude of complex shapes). I find to create shadows and highlights, it is much better for me to use the gradient tool, blur effects and transparency to get the effect I want. I then layer them one on top of the other like paint. I guess I create 80% of my illustrations this way. Building transparent gradient effects on top of either flat color or more often other gradient effect. Until I get it to look like light moving in and out of the form.
That is not to say that the gradient mesh tool doesn't have it's place. To make the background for this piece, I simply created a square and coverted it into a gradient mesh. I then played around with different colors for the anchor points until I got the effect I wanted. It was much more easier and effective than my usual way of painting in illustrator.
Application Illustrator
Labels Pop Art, Portraiture, Fantasy
Times Viewed 2716
Approved By toddm
15 April 2008 - 09:54
Comment From
Joe(y) (sketchyatbest)
Excellent work man.
15 April 2008 - 11:14
Comment From
dkelly (Dkelly)
excellent artwork. it pops off the page and is very "clean" looking.
D Kelly
artnmurals.com
15 April 2008 - 11:30
Comment From
Junior Chacón (juniorfco)
Excellente, aversome art !!!
15 April 2008 - 15:55
Comment From
Dirk Murset (voodoodog)
James, awesome job! I can appreciate the time it takes to create your artwork. Thanx for the insight on your technique. I too, am no big fan of gradient mesh, although I have seen some great stuff done with it. I still prefer your style over any mushy-mesh art. Again, well done!
