BIO - ABOUT THE ARTIST

“Growing up, my biggest cultural influences were Bugs Bunny, Mad Magazine, the music of the 60s and 70s (thanks to my parents), and the outdoor advertising that I would see from the car window as we drove through the City.”

James was born and raised near Detroit. He attended Ferris State University in northern Michigan, where he learned from some of the most talented illustrators and designers from Detroit’s auto industry. He graduated with a bachelor degree in Visual Communication and Advertising then moved out west before working in several advertising and design agencies, including J Walter Thompson. In San Francisco, he fell into the dot-com industry as Art Director for NewMedia.com, a spirited online magazine.

James came to New York City in June 2002. The City’s fast pace and zero tolerance for error has elevated his eye and skills to new heights. He has become a trustworthy problem-solver with a great understanding of visual art and how it applies to branding and marketing. With his diverse background, there are few jobs he cannot handle.

“I like to put my clients at ease- especially when it comes to new technology like the web,” says James. “Websites can be very overwhelming at first. One of my specialties is sitting down with a client and helping them establish some simple objectives. I make it fun and easy for them. Let me worry about the techie details.”

These days James is most interested in doing freelance and contract work that incorporates illustration, photography and impactful typography. He also enjoys animation and character development as well as writing and performing music. James is also an accomplished musician and a notable guitarist. The newest frontier he is exploring is digital sound. His new home studio incorporates full sound recording and editing capabilities giving synergy to his musical and visual backgrounds to the benefit of his clients. He considers it part of his job to stay on top of evolving technology. He also continues to attend fine art classes at The Art Students League of New York as well as the Cooper Union.