JMH: Where were you born and raised?
WESLEY: I was born and raised on a little farm in Delta, CO. It’s a small town in western Colorado that only had a population of about 5,000 people, but it’s grown since then.
JMH: Tell CBI about yourself…
WESLEY: After high school, I joined the Air Force and spent 4 years active duty. I was stationed in England, New Mexico, and Idaho. I also served 2 tours to Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm, where I did nose are on several of the EF-111 jets.
After the military I went to college for a few years majoring in electrical engineering. Prior to graduation I did a business internship with Walt Disney World in Florida. During my internship I went to an open call audition for entertainment and was selected to play Goofy at the Disney studios. Over the next year I went on to perform in parades, stage shows and as several other characters including Baloo from Jungle Book, Tigger and Woody from Toy Story.
While at Disney I was “escorted” out of the Feature Animation studio multiple times by security for trying to meet one of the animators. I was finally able to meet one of the animators by the name of Frank Cordero who became my first mentor. He definitely didn’t pull any punches the first time he looked at my portfolio! The word “crap” was his assessment of most of my work. Ultimately though he put me on the path to where I’m at and still heading today.
After getting cut in the final round of an audition to be in the Mortal Combat TV series I decided to go back to college. I changed my major and graduated in 2000 with a bachelor of science in civil engineering.
I continued to act in plays and shows while in college and after graduation I moved to Hollywood to pursue acting. I spent 6 years in CA, became a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild and even landed a small role on the second season of tv series “24”.
During this time I started my first business and kept pursuing my art career as well. I kept every rejection letter I’ve received as motivation to keep trying. I’ve been rejected multiple times over the years by Disney Animation, Disney Imagineers, Lucas Arts, Pixar, Dreamworks, Warner Brothers, DC, Marvel, Image, and Darkhorse. Hm, I’m not sure that’s something to brag about!
In 2008 I left CA and moved to Utah where I now work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The best thing about being in California was meeting my wife. We’ve been married for two years now and are expecting our first child in a few months.
JMH: How long have you been drawing?
WESLEY: My father is a painter and so he got me started when I was about 5 years old, so that’s about 35 years. I’ve only been serious about it since 1998 though.
JMH: How did you break into the industry drawing book covers?
WESLEY: One of my business mentors stated, “Why climb the corporate ladder when you can own it?” After the multiple rejections from all the major companies, I decided to start my own. So my father and I founded Quillmatt Publishing. We mainly handle historical fiction novels, but will be expanding into fiction, mystery, and Graphis novels as well. Once my cover art was out there on some books, more commissions started rolling in.
JMH: Do you have any formal art training?
WESLEY: I’ve never gone to school for art, but have had many great mentors and teachers. I attend life drawing classes on a regular basis.
JMH: Who are your artistic influences?
WESLEY: My father who got me started. Peter Paul Rubens who teaches me something every time I look at his work. Leonardo Da Vinci who was also an Artist/Engineer. And then a whole list of amazing fantasy/comic artists including Frank Frazetta, Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri. And finally the incredible community on PencilJack that continue to struggle, teach and encourage.
JMH: How do you focus when drawing?
WESLEY: The main thing I’ll do is try to picture the story that is happening. Even if it is just a simple pin-up it needs to tell a story. I often find myself mumbling dialogue or humming a theme song while sketching as the story unfolds in my mind. When this happens time just falls away and I’m totally focused on the work.
JMH: What types of technology do you use to draw?
WESLEY: For my digital work I use Photoshop CS and a Wacom tablet on a pc. For graphic novels and book covers I add the text and layouts with Adobe Illustrator.
JMH: What was the first comic book you ever read?
WESLEY: My grandfather used to pick comics up at yard sales and keep them around for us to read when we visited. The first one I remember reading was Micronauts #8 with Captain Universe. I still love that book!
JMH: Do you read any of the new comic books that are being published
today? If so, which ones?
WESLEY: I usually pick up graphic novels, but not individual issues very often. I’m a diehard fan of the classic heroes usually following Superman, Batman and the X-Men. I’m also a huge fan of the Sandman books by Neil Gaiman.
JMH: Print vs. Digital. Your thoughts…
WESLEY: Everything is switching to digital, which I think is great because it gives previously unknown artists/writers the chance to get their work out there. However, I’ll always love being able to collect the printed editions.
JMH: What sources do you use for a cover image?
WESLEY: I usually try to take some part of the book/story that inspired me and capture that same emotional impact on the cover. I tend to design the covers using either the golden ratio or iconic layout. My wife then poses for me while I rough in the figures, which I then scan into the computer and start painting over.
JMH: What other mediums or genres have you drawn for?
WESLEY: I work in oils, acrylics, pen & ink and charcoal and I sculpt with clay. In addition to comics and book covers, I’ve created art for advertisements, T-Shirts, websites and album covers.
JMH: What project are you currently working on now?
WESLEY: I’m working on some commissioned oil portraits and T-shirt designs. I’m also in the process of writing my own fiction novel about regular people being imbued with the powers of ancient heroes from different cultures through the use of tattoos and artifacts.
JMH: What future projects do you have in the works?
WESLEY: I’ll be doing the cover for the third book in “The Vikings” trilogy which will be released late 2012. I also plan on making a graphic novel version of my own book once it is finished.
JMH: Do you have any words for aspiring artists?
WESLEY: Don’t waste time worrying about whether you’re good or talented enough to be successful. Just keep studying and drawing and as long as you’re better today than you were yesterday, you’re successful.
JMH: How can fans and publishers get a hold of you?
WESLEY: I can be reached at
[email protected] or
directly at [email protected]
Or by snail mail at:
Quillmaat Publishing
P.O. Box 7594
Helena, MT 59604
JMH: Wesley, CBI appreciates your time. All the best.
WESLEY: John, Thanks to you and CBI. It’s been a pleasure.
Discovery Wesley James' comics here:
Quillmaat Publishing
www.goodreads.com/book/show/18249839-the-hammer-and-the-cross
WESLEY: I was born and raised on a little farm in Delta, CO. It’s a small town in western Colorado that only had a population of about 5,000 people, but it’s grown since then.
JMH: Tell CBI about yourself…
WESLEY: After high school, I joined the Air Force and spent 4 years active duty. I was stationed in England, New Mexico, and Idaho. I also served 2 tours to Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm, where I did nose are on several of the EF-111 jets.
After the military I went to college for a few years majoring in electrical engineering. Prior to graduation I did a business internship with Walt Disney World in Florida. During my internship I went to an open call audition for entertainment and was selected to play Goofy at the Disney studios. Over the next year I went on to perform in parades, stage shows and as several other characters including Baloo from Jungle Book, Tigger and Woody from Toy Story.
While at Disney I was “escorted” out of the Feature Animation studio multiple times by security for trying to meet one of the animators. I was finally able to meet one of the animators by the name of Frank Cordero who became my first mentor. He definitely didn’t pull any punches the first time he looked at my portfolio! The word “crap” was his assessment of most of my work. Ultimately though he put me on the path to where I’m at and still heading today.
After getting cut in the final round of an audition to be in the Mortal Combat TV series I decided to go back to college. I changed my major and graduated in 2000 with a bachelor of science in civil engineering.
I continued to act in plays and shows while in college and after graduation I moved to Hollywood to pursue acting. I spent 6 years in CA, became a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild and even landed a small role on the second season of tv series “24”.
During this time I started my first business and kept pursuing my art career as well. I kept every rejection letter I’ve received as motivation to keep trying. I’ve been rejected multiple times over the years by Disney Animation, Disney Imagineers, Lucas Arts, Pixar, Dreamworks, Warner Brothers, DC, Marvel, Image, and Darkhorse. Hm, I’m not sure that’s something to brag about!
In 2008 I left CA and moved to Utah where I now work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The best thing about being in California was meeting my wife. We’ve been married for two years now and are expecting our first child in a few months.
JMH: How long have you been drawing?
WESLEY: My father is a painter and so he got me started when I was about 5 years old, so that’s about 35 years. I’ve only been serious about it since 1998 though.
JMH: How did you break into the industry drawing book covers?
WESLEY: One of my business mentors stated, “Why climb the corporate ladder when you can own it?” After the multiple rejections from all the major companies, I decided to start my own. So my father and I founded Quillmatt Publishing. We mainly handle historical fiction novels, but will be expanding into fiction, mystery, and Graphis novels as well. Once my cover art was out there on some books, more commissions started rolling in.
JMH: Do you have any formal art training?
WESLEY: I’ve never gone to school for art, but have had many great mentors and teachers. I attend life drawing classes on a regular basis.
JMH: Who are your artistic influences?
WESLEY: My father who got me started. Peter Paul Rubens who teaches me something every time I look at his work. Leonardo Da Vinci who was also an Artist/Engineer. And then a whole list of amazing fantasy/comic artists including Frank Frazetta, Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri. And finally the incredible community on PencilJack that continue to struggle, teach and encourage.
JMH: How do you focus when drawing?
WESLEY: The main thing I’ll do is try to picture the story that is happening. Even if it is just a simple pin-up it needs to tell a story. I often find myself mumbling dialogue or humming a theme song while sketching as the story unfolds in my mind. When this happens time just falls away and I’m totally focused on the work.
JMH: What types of technology do you use to draw?
WESLEY: For my digital work I use Photoshop CS and a Wacom tablet on a pc. For graphic novels and book covers I add the text and layouts with Adobe Illustrator.
JMH: What was the first comic book you ever read?
WESLEY: My grandfather used to pick comics up at yard sales and keep them around for us to read when we visited. The first one I remember reading was Micronauts #8 with Captain Universe. I still love that book!
JMH: Do you read any of the new comic books that are being published
today? If so, which ones?
WESLEY: I usually pick up graphic novels, but not individual issues very often. I’m a diehard fan of the classic heroes usually following Superman, Batman and the X-Men. I’m also a huge fan of the Sandman books by Neil Gaiman.
JMH: Print vs. Digital. Your thoughts…
WESLEY: Everything is switching to digital, which I think is great because it gives previously unknown artists/writers the chance to get their work out there. However, I’ll always love being able to collect the printed editions.
JMH: What sources do you use for a cover image?
WESLEY: I usually try to take some part of the book/story that inspired me and capture that same emotional impact on the cover. I tend to design the covers using either the golden ratio or iconic layout. My wife then poses for me while I rough in the figures, which I then scan into the computer and start painting over.
JMH: What other mediums or genres have you drawn for?
WESLEY: I work in oils, acrylics, pen & ink and charcoal and I sculpt with clay. In addition to comics and book covers, I’ve created art for advertisements, T-Shirts, websites and album covers.
JMH: What project are you currently working on now?
WESLEY: I’m working on some commissioned oil portraits and T-shirt designs. I’m also in the process of writing my own fiction novel about regular people being imbued with the powers of ancient heroes from different cultures through the use of tattoos and artifacts.
JMH: What future projects do you have in the works?
WESLEY: I’ll be doing the cover for the third book in “The Vikings” trilogy which will be released late 2012. I also plan on making a graphic novel version of my own book once it is finished.
JMH: Do you have any words for aspiring artists?
WESLEY: Don’t waste time worrying about whether you’re good or talented enough to be successful. Just keep studying and drawing and as long as you’re better today than you were yesterday, you’re successful.
JMH: How can fans and publishers get a hold of you?
WESLEY: I can be reached at
[email protected] or
directly at [email protected]
Or by snail mail at:
Quillmaat Publishing
P.O. Box 7594
Helena, MT 59604
JMH: Wesley, CBI appreciates your time. All the best.
WESLEY: John, Thanks to you and CBI. It’s been a pleasure.
Discovery Wesley James' comics here:
Quillmaat Publishing
www.goodreads.com/book/show/18249839-the-hammer-and-the-cross
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