Pet Themed Sign for FL CraftArt Gallery

New Sign for Florida Craft Art Gallery of a pet themed exhibit "Woof, Meow, Chirp and Slither" on display until August.

May the Fourth Be With You

First time showing art in Tampa as part of the group show opening on May 4th otherwise known as Star Wars Day!  This curated show is on display through May 18th at The Brick's in Ybor City.  "Like a Bossk" and "IG-88 Bad Robot" are two images in honor of lesser known characters spotlighted in Empire Strikes Back as bounty hunters, the devious, reptilian looking Bossk and terror of artificial intelligence, IG-88.  Created using Posca Brand Paint Pens and 16 x 20inch black canvases.  Artwork is available as series for $500 or $350 each. Available soon as 3 inch die-cut stickers from StickerMule.

AVID Brewing Company

Chalk sign hand-lettered with Zigposterman brand liquid chalk markers for Avid Brewing Company in St. Pete, FL. This unique craft brewery and tasting room is also a hydroponics and home brew supply store.  Let not the store front renovations fool you! Avid is open for business daily so check out the alleyway entrance off 18th St South and Central Avenue in the Grand Central District of St. Pete, FL. Greatly appreciate this opportunity to work with a new client in the ownership pair of father and son, Allan and Jeff. Let them know who sent you while enjoying the brews of a local business who actively supports local art. Time-lapse video available on Youtube and Facebook.

FOJKH; HOWL! Charity Event Poster Art

Poster Art for the upcoming charity fundraiser on April 16th from 7-10 PM as part of the 5th Annual SunLit Festival hosted at the Old Key West Bar & Grill, 2451 Central Ave.  Proceeded benefit the local 501(c)3 nonprofit charities Friends of The Jack Kerouac House, Inc and Keep St. Pete Lit. FOJKH is running this event a unique mix of music, performance art and poetry reading. 

Official SunLit Festival Event hosted by Friends of The Jack Kerouac House on April 16th from 7-10pm. Featuring a live reading of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” Musical Acts will be The Florida Boys, Grant Peeples and Ronny Elliott. Readers of “Howl” will be 88.5 WMNF radio’s JoEllen Schilke, Playwright and Founder of The Studio@620 Bob Devin Jones along with Peter Meinke, Florida's Poet Laureate, and Becca McCoy actor/singer, a Eckerd College Theater Grad, a member of the Actors Equity Association with a broad list of credits on stage, films and tv. Becca is currently in town for the American Stage production of Mama Mia!

Jazz improv by Vice President of the Poynter Institute, Roy Peter Clark (keys) with violinist John Richard, guitar wizards Big Jim Allen and Bart Hanchey. Gio's Typos will be on site doing his unique brand of typewriter poetry. 

Event is free to the public. Donations are encouraged at the door. For more on the FOJKH charity mission check their social media pages and website at Kerouachouse.com

Schedule: Music starts at 7 pm with The Florida Boys, 7:45 Introduction of Performers by USFSP Professor Tom Hallock and KSPL Founder Maureen McDole, 8:00 Reading of HOWL, 8:15 Ronny Elliott and Grant Peeples, 9:15 onwards Poetry Reading.

Check out the amazing line-up and variety of events on the website below as there's something for everybody to enjoy!

The 5th Annual SunLit Festival runs April 11-28, 2018. For more info: www.sunlitfestival.org

Reveal Undivided at the Station House

Chalk mural and A-frame sign for the more recent event at the Station House, 260 1st Ave South in St. Pete, Florida.  Fun project to showcase the opening of their new location in Hyde Park, Tampa called Hyde House. This event is an art exhibition meets fashion show featuring cocktail tasting, music, a panel discussion, pop-up market extravaganza. Made with liquid chalk, brush lettered by hand. Check out the time-lapse video on Youtube. Will post images and video of the Chalk Mural as well.

April Q&A sign for Maple Street Biscuits

If you could travel anywhere tomorrow where would it be? Machu Picchu is the vote that fits my current mood. What about you?

Newly done sign art for the St Pete location of Maple Street Biscuits. This interactive way of asking questions to customers is used to yell out your order when its ready.  It has been fun doing monthly chalk art to highlight this part of the dining experience at Maple Street. Made with Zigposterman brand liquid chalk markers drained into a container and brush lettered by hand. Check out the time-lapse video on my Youtube channel, created using a GoPro camera taking still photos every 5 seconds.  Open to commissions contact me at the following email: James@artbyjamese.com

SunLit Poster Art Entry

Keep St. Pete Lit is hosting a poster art design contest for this year's SunLit Festival. It is a confederation of like-minded literary, cultural, and civic organizations coordinating their individual efforts for the common goal of advancing the enjoyment of books, reading, writing, and the classic art of letterpress printing. Literary and other arts & cultural circles intersect during the fifth annual SunLit Festival, a springtime celebration of the written word. SunLit Festival 2019 brings together over 35 various organizations and arts disciplines to celebrate literacy, literature, reading, and writing for days of intoxicating “Litertainment” and just plain fun. For more info check out the schedule of events on their website at Sunlitfestival.org

Quest: A Celebration of Glass

Sign art for Florida CraftArt Gallery and their new exhibit Quest: A Celebration of Glass. In honor of Glass Art Society Conference (GAS) taking place in St. Pete, Duncan McClellan and Mary Childs will curate an exhibition of glass masters who draw on mythological, cultural and personal imagery. Each work of art explores the artist's intimate and expansive journey of self expression and communication. GAS holds a three-day conference with more than 2,000 attendees from the glass world; last year it was held in Murano, Italy. This sign was drawn as a tribute to International Women's Day, full video available on my Facebook page or at this link here.

Southeastern Guide Dogs Unveiling

Inspirational night with Southeastern Guide Dogs these working dogs help transform lives. Second time I’ve worked with this amazing organization, though last night was my first visit to their campus outside Bradenton. Animated and documentary short films were played, each one brought me to tears in different ways. Facinating to hear stories of how the organization has grown over the last 30 years, along with a truly inspirational keynote speaker. Hearing about her experiences being discriminated for being blind, how having a guide dog companion has transformed her life. Really put things into perspective for me about how we have the ability to overcome great adversity. Nights like that are unforgettable and reflect what makes working with this charity on projects, just as an artist, is life changing. Links to the SEGD website are below in the names of these pint sized Superheroes on Parade, go and cast your votes!

Honored to be collaborating on painting these two statues for Zenith Insurance it was a unique challenge to visually problem solve. Each office branch had very detailed and different ideas of how their Superhero could embody their working environment or city vibe. Can you guess which statue goes with which location? Orlando or Hollywood, FL?  Oddly enough the names for the Puppies were chosen by each office branch without knowledge of the other location's choice. The names of Sunny and Luna balance each other like the Yin and Yang. L

Valentine's Day at Maple Street

Maple Street Biscuits on Central Ave in St Pete, Florida celebrated Valentine's Day with heart shaped biscuits and fresh chalk sign. Hand-lettered with love and Bistro Liquid Chalk Markers.

OffBeat Bijou: Sign Art

New sign art project drawn by hand, brush lettered, painted with love and liquid chalk. Sidewalk sign for the current exhibit on jewelry at Florida Craft Art Gallery. Check out the funky artwork on display in person and online.