Drawrings!!! (Big DL)..HUGE update (11-30-04)

[James Kei]

Hi all.

I dug these up from out of the closet, and thought I'd post them here.























plaster-cast drawing from life.

[fredflickstone]

Did you study with Gerome Opena? I see a lot of his influence in these...and they are smokin. I really love the first two images, powerful and expressive. The ink line is beautiful too. Damn good...got any more we can peep?


Ron

[James Kei]

Thanks Ron,

Yup, Jerome and I went to school together, and it was because of his work that I began to take drawing seriously. His work is monumental.

I'll try to post some more soon.

[rambhat]

These are really beautiful. I am amazed by your control of ink. Is that ballpoint pen, fountain ink, or what? Very inspiring work, I too am a big fan of Opena and am now in awe of your work as well. Please post more!

[Main Loop]

oh wow, you're on this board now.. awesome.. so is it James Kei or James McClelland? I hear you called McClelland more.. Oh, Im a Academy student.. i remember you last year going to workshops back when Chris Mangum did the clothed fig wkshop.. didnt know who you were until Kristian Norelius gave me your Lucid comic you did.. hey see if you can get Kristian to start posting here, and Jerome too..

[James Kei]

-rambhat
Most of these are prismacolor pencil on paper, the only ink used was a brush-pen on the "girl-with-earrings". The great thing about prismacolor pencil is that you can get the full value range, and it doesn't allow you to erase,... which builds confidence on what is put down on paper.

Main Loop-
I use "Kei" (my middle name) because its easier to spell and pronounce. I really miss those old drawing workshops, I should go back...

It's amazing that Jerome's student work is known nation-wide, even though none of it was ever published.

[James Kei]

Here are some old paintings.

[rambhat]

Wow. Those paintings are awesome! Have you studied with Sergio Sanchez at all? One of those paintings is very reminiscent of his look. Who are some of your favorite contemporary? Also, are you centralized mainly in LA?

[James Kei]

rambhat-
Thanks!

I wasn't familiar with Sergio Sanchez until just now, I ran a google search, he's produced some very nice work!

I have so many favourite artists, too many to list!

Actually I'm not in the L.A. area, I live in San Francisco.

[fredflickstone]

Sweet again. I love the modelling in these paintings. Can you give a brief on what Gerome told you to push, or emphasize in these works, or whoever you had as your instructors? I really like the focus and depth in these images, I was wondering if there was a method in finding this? Once again, great stuff...all of it.

All oils?


WHat are you doing currently?

Thanks for answering any of these and many respects to you. Excellent inspiration...

Ron

[Groover McNab]

Awesome works. Really inspiring!

I'm gonna have to try out prismacolor pencils now.

[James Kei]

Thanks again Ron,

-Jerome and I had the same instructors, and the same influences.
For drawing I looked at Heinrich Kley for inspiration.
And for painting, A single man taught me most of what I know. His name is Zao-Ming Wu, the grand-master of "values".
I could write a bit about what he taught me but it would be lenghthy.
I also studied at the Royal Russian Academy, also known as the "Repin Institute" in St. Petersburg.

-Yup, all oils... the Black-and-white ones are Sellenier oil-stick on paper. I'ts like working with pigmented butter.

-I've been doing freelance illustration for a little while. But I'm currently working in comic-book's,..keep an eye out for me.

By the way Ron your work is excellent as well, all of you guys down south are amazing draftsmen.

-Thanks Groover!

[I.was.ink]

These are beautiful James!

This one's my favorite!


I'd like to see those notes, when you have the time for it of course...

I'll be waiting for your next update!

-Iwasink

[fredflickstone]

YOu know what, I like reading...I would love to hear what your instructors told you. Especially now that I know you studied in Russia as well, that and china are the hot bed for impressionism/realism dont hold back...heh

Anything you write I am going to consume, and I am sure there are others here as well just as eager...


Thanks for the complements also...we are definitely starting something different down here...its kinda nice to have the "right" way to do things for once...heh

Thanks for sharing again, and I cannot wait to see what is next. Look for my comic work coming this summer as well. Maybe we can do some art collaborative some time.. that would be sweet, fine art comic storytelling...dammn


Ron

[JoshuaTheJames]

Very inspirational. Thanks.

-Joshua

[stephen]

wow, incredible work man. dont stop now

[Diego]

indeed, awesome paintings. I'm looking foward to read those notes of you...if you have some spare time
Keep it up.
-D

[James Kei]

Thanks guys!

Oh man, I'll try to dig up some notes and post a tutorial somtime when I get the chance.

In the meantime, here are some more drawings.

[James Kei]

[James Kei]

[fredflickstone]

Oh yeah, these are awesome. This all Prisma color? When you do the Prisma, are you using prisma sticks or prismacolro pencils? I found they both have a different treatment to them when I use them? Also, how big are they? I love the energy in the lines, they have to be at least 16 x 20 or bigger...but then again...

THank you for posting more work, this is like Christmas everytime I log on...heh


Ron

[James Kei]

Thanks Ron!
I use Prismacolor pencils, which are expensive and wear-down quickly, but worth the price in the long run I think.

All of these are sketch-book drawings, most of them are about the size you see them on your screen.

My scanner sure got a good workout....

[rambhat]

Wow.
Are you teaching in SF or working with a studio?

[James Kei]

-rambhat,

I don't teach currently, though I thought about running a workshop out of my house, might be a while before I set that up.

Do you mean like a game or film studio? Alot of my friends work at such places, I've tried to find work in this field but there have been a ton of lay-offs lately, and nobody seems to be hiring any artist's.....bleh.

[James Kei]

from a DVD, ...."LA confidential" I think.

[fredflickstone]

Now that is tight...

Ron

[Main Loop]

oh yeah these are dope.. i recognize most of the models heh.. you have a really good sense of where you want your focus.. i can totally see the "Academy"-ness of it.. you're at where a lot of us want to be, as far as drawing goes.. awesome oil pastels too.. what kinda paper do u use? does the oil ruin the paper in the long run?

[stormeffex]

holy cow james, your drawings are incredible. i am in awe. now i'm really inspired to pick up drawing w/ prismacolors. pencil is just so forgiving, which makes my line work suffer a bit. WOW. how long have you been studying art?

[James Kei]

Thanks Storm!

I've always been drawing, but did'nt take it very seriously until about 5 years ago.

Mainloop,

Yeah, I don't know if that is an acomplishment to emulate the "Academy" style, I've been trying to get away from it for the past two years now for the goal of finding my own voice.
My current work looks much different. Most of the evolution of an artist takes place after school.

Oil-stick is great.....Unfortunately, if you don't gesso the paper first it will disolve in about eight years.

Here's a few more from the dusty closet.

[StylesDavis]

man, your work is awesome! i like them all. some remind me heavily (or heavenly? ) on käthe kollwitz, this female german expressionist...