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.
Ms. Frankenstein
Description Model: Christina
I was working on this piece for awhile when I had to take a break from it and devote my attention to the book cover job. That turned out to be a good thing, since it allowed me to tackle all that background detail fresh. Most of my backgrounds tend to be a lot simpler than this one. The idea being, you really don't want to distract too much from the figure in a Pin-Up. Here though I may have spent more time creating it than the main figure. But since it plays such an important part of the overall effect of the piece, I really didn't mind. For the background, I looked for elements from the original film.
When I first saw this picture of Christine, I knew I wanted to do a Frankenstein piece from it. When we shot, it was only her second or third photo shoot as a model and I had Maggie (the other model) put a leather collar on Christine. Her expression at that moment was priceless. Despite my limits as a photographer, I love what I get from shooting my own models. That expression and pose wasn't something I could have pulled from my own brain. In the end that was what drove the whole inspiration for this whole piece.
Application Illustrator
Labels Pop Art, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Times Viewed 1419
Approved By Huan
30 June 2009 - 14:38
Conversation With
CE (AIRLOCK)
Oh yes! This is a great one! The expression on her face is indeed captured to perfection!...& I love how her index fingers are occupied! What fun! Bravo!
30 June 2009 - 22:14:
James Courtney (Comixguy)
replied...
Yes this was big fun to shoot and draw. Although, I did have to drop out Maggie and replace her with Dr. Frankenstein and Igor. I should do one later from one of the many great shots I got of Christine and Happy Maggie together.
1 July 2009 - 13:53:
CE (AIRLOCK)
replied...
Maybe you can go with a "Dr. Victoria Frankenstein" and an "Igora" instead!!
James, I completely love this! The black and white with just a hint of blue is a great touch.
30 June 2009 - 22:17:
James Courtney (Comixguy)
replied...
One of those happy accidents from an overlay I added to try and knock the background back more.
1 July 2009 - 08:22
Comment From
Russ Cox (SmilingOtis)
Yes this was big fun to shoot and draw. Although, I did have to drop out Maggie and replace her with Dr. Frankenstein and Igor. I should do one later from one of the many great shots I got of Christine and Happy Maggie together.