About Me
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I was born an artist in 1956 and have been drawing every day since the age of four. The 1960’s saw me studying the great masters in the picture books of a small town library in Louisiana.I was most influenced by the impressionists and the obscure pointillism of Seurat; M. C. Escher also played a part in my early days along with the pop art of Peter Max, Andy Warhol and Picasso. Each influence can be seen in my art as it came to be.In 1970 we moved to Tennessee and Murfreesboro became my home. My teenage years in high school were my earliest days as a professional artist doing dance backdrops, school bulletin boards and illustrations for the literary magazine.I joined the Air Force in 1974 and went directly to duty as an illustrator for the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing in Alamogordo, New Mexico. For two years my skills were honed by some of the best studio artists in the military and I was accepted to be an Illustrator at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, working for the instructional technology department. I was one of two military artists among nine civilian artists that comprised the studio.In 1978, I moved to Houston and became a freelance artist. I also did some industrial photography for Bell Telephone and started selling prints of my art.Then I moved to Los Angeles and hit the streets hoping to make a name for myself. I had my first art show in Santa Monica at the Llimile Theatre. I realized then I had a long way to go before I made the big time.It was 1980 and I joined the Navy as a draughtsman on board the the USS Midway home ported in Tokyo. Everywhere the ship pulled in I would have an art show at the American Visitors Centers.I returned to Murfreesboro in 1982 and worked freelance art successfully for print shops, screen printers and specialty advertisers. I drew for anyone who would pay my price and that's the way it would be for the next 20 years. Except for my studio fire of 1992. It was during that twenty years I invented the beeswax on plastic colorization process and built a 60 print exhibit. Now I have published this second web site to reach the art lovers around the world; for this is art.I delineate with a Bic Ballpoint Pen – pointillism, my art, my meat. I draw with a pencil first, then I ink them in at four dots per second. Most of my pictures come from my imagination where detail borders on the fanatical extremes. I love to please the eye, and I love to bring my visions into others realities. It's like a piece of me becomes part of their lives for their visual enjoyment.I wanted to write about my life as it is today. What I do and what I like to do. My days and nights are very structured. My hours are from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. every day. I sleep 9 to 5. I draw all night, usually starting at 10 p.m. when things quiet down.. I'll draw until daylight, shower then go to bed. It's a I don't get out much–rather have people visit me. I have a close circle of friends that keep me in good company. I like to listen to the oldies, watching three TVs without sound. I love TV but I rarely listen to it. I prefer cop shows and reality TV shows. I love nostalgia on TV land and The Hallmark channel. The history channel is one of my favorites. I love war stories–civil war, WWI and WWII, Korea and Vietnam. I study the horror of war. I will watch any footage of Adolph Hitler. I hate that monster and I look at him like a bug under a glass.I love cats. I have three. All males–my "roomies"–my boys. They spend most of their time "catting" around outside. They eat their weight in cat food every three days. I raise tomcats from eyedropper fed newborns to full grown felines. I find great joy in these most mysterious of Gods creatures.I love women–always have–I find that women are fascinating. The women I'm attracted to are powerful females. My Mother was the Nurse of the Year for the state of Tennessee in 2003. She sets the standards for women in my life. She has been married to my Father for over 50 years. Although, Ive been a bachelor since 1978, I have had several near mrs. I have had yet to find the right woman. But I'll keep lookin'.I have fathered three children in my life but I didn't get a chance to raise them. It's one regret I'll always have. I'm a notorious smoker and a reformed alcoholic. I've been shot at three times in my life. Once at point blank range. I was hit and run over by a speeding car while I was on a bicycle. I was killed then raised whole. I went from zero to sixty instantaneously into the blackness of death. Yet, I walked away from it–death be not proud. Sometimes I have flash backs–bright flash of light behind me then boom–into oblivion.I've never done hard drugs or hard drink. I love life too much to risk it on something stupid. I don't want to die. I'm a big believer in Jesus. I've had a secret ambition to become an evangelist. I love to preach the gospel to all my friends. I won't lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate anyone who does. I'm just old fashioned. I live the Golden Rule.I've featured my art in 122 cities nationwide. I used to travel a lot in my career. I've driven from Nashville to LA several times. LA's my dream. My Mother's family is one of the largest most powerful Mexican families in the whole city. They own and operate some of the finest Mexican restaurants in all of Los Angeles. This is my blood–Mexican Spanish decent Indians. I have dozens of cousins and aunts and uncles.I believe in ghosts and UFO's. Seeing is believing and I've seen evidence of both. There's supernatural entities living with me. I've seen a swarm of flies in my window twice–eerie and scary. These spirits are my guardians. They protect me.I have a very dry sense of humor. It's hard to make me laugh. I have a caustic wit and I'm the most un-analytical person you've ever met. There's not a lot of questions I don't have the answers to. I am a man of simple pleasures. I'm always happy. Time is too precious to waste on being unhappy and it doesn't take much to make me happy. I'm a lucky guy.I've drawn more pictures than I can count, but alas they were commissioned and I don't have copies of them. I'll have a gallery in the heavens with all my pictures. My treasures laid up. I've had quite a career as an artist. My prints have been scattered from east coast to west coast. My print of the Mill hung in the rotunda of the White House. In my life I've entered six art contests and I won six art contests–water off a duck.I've worn many hats while living the life as an artist. I've been a security guard in a shopping mall and a salad chef for a large steakhouse. I worked in a leather tannery and photographed manholes for L. J. Gonzes. I used to hustle pool. I sharked the sharks.I've drawn thousands of $5.00 cartoon portraits–anything to make a buck. In Tennessee I'm the King of the Ten Dollar Print.I'm the favorite Uncle to several young people. I'm a soft touch and I'm a haven of sort for those often troubled times in their lives. I've been there for them since they were in diapers. I helped raise them like sons and daughters. And now I'm grandfather to a new batch. It's in my nature to nurture and cultivate for the good of posterity and for providence.All in all, I feel I have made a success of my life. I've been around the world but there's no place like home and there's no friends like old friends. Be with me now and in every step of the way.Share the experience.My Thanks and Sincere Best WishesGary James
