“I would say most of the time a drawing comes out right the first time. By right, I don’t mean that there are no mistakes, but that it feels unforced and close to the original thought.”
Looking at the world through drawing
James Jarvis describes drawing as something he’s always felt compelled to do. At first, he struggled to see where his skate inspired drawings fitted into the traditional art world. Working with gallerist Nanzuka helped him find a home alongside artists like Haroshi and Todd James. Since, he’s worked in various media from outdoor installations to collectibles and sculpture. His true love, however, is still taking pencil to paper. His signature drawings depict humanoid characters that are intentionally generic. He uses their simplicity to decode the complex world around him.
Since 2019, Jarvis ha...
Collaborations
James worked as a commercial artist for many years. He collaborated with Nike several times, including designing their graphics for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Career
James co-founded Amos Toys along with Russell Waterman. They created a range of collectibles that gained a cult following over its ten year span.
