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.
Not Without A Fight
Description Ahhh, my first illustration of 2009. Ironically, it is based upon the same photo shoot as the first illustration I did in 2008. I'm hoping I'm not jinxing myself and that this coming year is a better one for all of us than the last. This is also my first really new illustration in two full months. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things in 2009. I've spent a big part of 2008 working on the business part of my art business. Now I want to work on the art part of my art business.
I did this one in Black and White to play up the Comic book/Pulp fiction look I wanted from it. I wanted to try and capture a Jack Kirby type feel with using just heavy blacks and whites with just cross hatching for shading on the figure. I admit I cheated a bit, by adding a blur effect on the monster shadow in the back.
I'd like to do some others in this "Kirbyistic' style. I liked the energy that Jack Kirby brought to his comic book images. I'd like to try and capture some of that into my pin-up. Too often pin-ups look too staged and posed. It would be cool to shake that up a bit and see how they could be if I add some of that raw Kirby energy to them.
Application Illustrator
Labels Fantasy, Pop Art, Science Fiction
Times Viewed 1712
Approved By Huan
6 January 2009 - 11:48
Conversation With
voodoodog
James, WOW! This is awesome. I freakin' love it. Kirby was a big influence when I was a kid, as well as Joe Kubert. I dig the menacing alien being suggested by just a shadow. Great use of black and white. BRAVO!
6 January 2009 - 21:37:
James Courtney (Comixguy)
replied...
Ahh, you are making me blush.
I had just finished reading Kirby:King of Comics a short while back. Despite the fact that he has a HUGE influence on comic books as a whole, the industry really didn't treat him well in the end. I have always kind of looked on Kirby as a cautionary tale because of that. He was a great talent but a poor businessman. Stan Lee on the other hand, was better at getting the deal than making comics. That is why I think he got off better in the long run. Even though both made the Marvel Universe together.
7 January 2009 - 12:28:
voodoodog
replied...
I know the story all too well. Unfortunately, quite often great talent and poor business skills go hand-in-hand.
6 January 2009 - 22:03
Comment From
Jerry Mills (Husker)
OMG! This is great! The black and white treatment is excellent. I'm working on creating more art like this. I can only hope to come close to something as good as this. Well done sir!
7 January 2009 - 00:05
Conversation With
Joe(y) (sketchyatbest)
Awesome work... Did you hand-draw all the pattern linework? If you did, you're one patient man.
7 January 2009 - 08:21:
James Courtney (Comixguy)
replied...
Not that patient. For a lot of the cross hatching, I used the blend tool. I'd make a shape at one end and then copy and paste at the other end. Then use the blend tool to step and repeat the shapes in between. I'd add points to the blend spine and move them around so that it was always just going in a straight line.
7 January 2009 - 14:09:
Joe(y) (sketchyatbest)
replied...
Either way, awesome. I might have to try that out on some future pieces, to avoid mind-numbing frustration.
7 January 2009 - 19:32
Conversation With
CE (AIRLOCK)
Oh yes!! And James knocks it out of the park again! Wow...the things you can do with real model photography as a reference for a power rendering! Well, if you'd like to collaborate comic artist style, I could be the artist on the coloration. I'd consider it an honor and a lot of fun! (I love collaborating with extraordinary talent!) If not... hey, I understand.
8 January 2009 - 08:33:
James Courtney (Comixguy)
replied...
I'm flattered by your offer but I must pass. I find in Illustrator, it is only slightly easier to do a black and white drawing than one in color. So a black and white illustration is meant to be in Black and White. Adding color will only take away from the effect.
I'm doing another photo shoot this weekend with two models. So I hope to have some more new stuff up soon.
9 January 2009 - 20:34:
CE (AIRLOCK)
replied...
Yeah! Imagine a film like Raging Bull being colorized!! ...I get your point! lol......Looking forward to seeing more of your work, James.
20 February 2009 - 22:10
Conversation With
Dilettante3000
Nice lines and hatching. Reminds me of one of those great 2000AD artists like Brian Bolland or Glen Fabry.
21 February 2009 - 14:41:
James Courtney (Comixguy)
replied...
You are making me blush! I got a book on the art of Brian Bolland a year or so ago. His stuff is awesome.
15 March 2009 - 13:30
Comment From
Todd Ferris (toddferris)
Ahh, you are making me blush. I had just finished reading Kirby:King of Comics a short while back. Despite the fact that he has a HUGE influence on comic books as a whole, the industry really didn't treat him well in the end. I have always kind of looked on Kirby as a cautionary tale because of that. He was a great talent but a poor businessman. Stan Lee on the other hand, was better at getting the deal than making comics. That is why I think he got off better in the long run. Even though both made the Marvel Universe together.