3:45 The "James Jean pen" as it was known, is the SKB SB-1000 0.5mm Ballpoint that wasn't available in the US, but Francis Vallejo got a stash of them from Thailand or Vietnam or somewhere and I got a few. They weren't very good pens, or at least 1 out of 3 would barely work. 😅 The Zebra F-301 is a far better version of this pen, trust me. But it was crazy the influence James Jean had with this work. I spent almost 2 years trying to develop a bastardized James Jean style... The James Jean effect was REAL in 2005-2010 in illustration departments across the US. Illustration students began to live in there sketchbooks and craft their pages more than their actual portfolio (me included...) Hundreds of Illustration department college kids Blogspots cropped up everywhere full of sketchbook scans. Here's an old, old blog of my sketchbooks were I was completely under his spell 😂 willgodwin.blogspot.com/2009/04/in-sketchbook.html The sketchbook he used I believe was a n in-house made linen sketchbook made by one of the big NY art stores. I think they stopped making them around 2007.
I grabbed this book when it was released. So glad I grabbed it when I could. We used to have a Meathaus Soopersecret message board. James was always so generous in sharing his process. Matter of fact, Farel, Tomer, Becky, Dash, Brandon, McD, Celia, Jim, Mu and the rest of the gang were so generous showing their work and giving each other feedback. I miss those days.
I own volume 3 “the hallowed seam” and it’s one of my favorite books I own. James is one of the people who first showed me what a sketchbook could be, that it could be a work of art within itself. I have then always treated my sketch books like an extension of myself, I take them everywhere I sketch in them every single day.
I've been waiting for you guys to get to James Jean. He is nothing short of a once-in-a-generation phenom. Straight mastery. I used to pour over these sketches on his website and even had a couple printed on t-shirts.I would love to see you cover more of him, especially the sketchbooks. And speaking of Farel, how about covering Pop Gun War?
I have a signed copy of "Process Recess." I purchased a copy of James Jean's book at a comic-book store when it was published. A wise choice! Eventually, I interviewed Jean and met him at the Los Angeles Book Fair. A brilliant and truly versatile artist!
That was roughly around the time I met Farel. He and some of the Meathaus crew came to SPACE. I think Esau was there too. Story goes that James tagged along with Farel to a portfolio review at DC. Amazing drawers.
I somehow got this book when I was in high school, and it was monumentally important to me. I would bring it with me everywhere and would whip it out during class and just stare at these drawings. Jean is a colossal talent.
I can tell you what the turning point was - he was trending with designer nerds for while, then he did some patterns for Prada and overnight the book went from 20-30 to 500$
Process Recess 3: Hallowed Seam is my most precious item I own, it is so amazing and inspiring, please do a video on that one day. Also love the idea of a sketchbook playlist, but would love for you guys to show us yours first!
James Jean was a guest at a local bookstore more than a decade ago and we were very fortunate to meet and talk to him. Great artist and a very, very humble person.
James Jean changed the game for me. I hadn't seen someone combine that fine art kind of process of art, color and composition to comics. A painter friend of mine introduced me to his art and had specifically said that studying him would improve me as an comic artist and indeed it did.
Don't have this one. But I have the 2007 Process Recess that was 11" x 15.5" spiral bound. It's still amazing to think about the speed of his trajectory..
I could never get into keeping a sketchbook. It just feels like I'm spinning my wheels when there's no other goal than just getting better at drawing. Drawing needs to feel like an assignment in order to get me off my ass and start pushing myself. Another artist I associate with this time period is Tomer Hanuka. He did some amazing Vertigo comic book covers, some interiors for another series, and then became a fine/commercial illustrator.
I have had a few James Jean videos pop up in my feed lately and, in truth, his work has always left me cold. The guy seems nice and his draftsmanship is impeccable, but it's like I can't see a person in it, just a drawing addict who has to hit the marks, over and over and over. Even the stuff where he's clearly going for emotional weight lands flat for me. I get that vibe from other technically renowned folks too, so I don't think it's just him, it's just that I get bored by craft beyond a certain point. My mom would say this about classical musicians too(she played harp), that emotional quality is missing from some of the top technicians.
my favorite fact about James Jean is that he was roommates with Yuko Shimizu, who's also an amazing illustrator.
3:45 The "James Jean pen" as it was known, is the SKB SB-1000 0.5mm Ballpoint that wasn't available in the US, but Francis Vallejo got a stash of them from Thailand or Vietnam or somewhere and I got a few. They weren't very good pens, or at least 1 out of 3 would barely work. 😅 The Zebra F-301 is a far better version of this pen, trust me. But it was crazy the influence James Jean had with this work. I spent almost 2 years trying to develop a bastardized James Jean style... The James Jean effect was REAL in 2005-2010 in illustration departments across the US. Illustration students began to live in there sketchbooks and craft their pages more than their actual portfolio (me included...) Hundreds of Illustration department college kids Blogspots cropped up everywhere full of sketchbook scans. Here's an old, old blog of my sketchbooks were I was completely under his spell 😂 willgodwin.blogspot.com/2009/04/in-sketchbook.html The sketchbook he used I believe was a n in-house made linen sketchbook made by one of the big NY art stores. I think they stopped making them around 2007.
Paid too much but bought a lifetimes worth from someone who had the connect
James Jean is wonderful, it would be great to see more.
I grabbed this book when it was released. So glad I grabbed it when I could. We used to have a Meathaus Soopersecret message board. James was always so generous in sharing his process. Matter of fact, Farel, Tomer, Becky, Dash, Brandon, McD, Celia, Jim, Mu and the rest of the gang were so generous showing their work and giving each other feedback. I miss those days.
I own volume 3 “the hallowed seam” and it’s one of my favorite books I own. James is one of the people who first showed me what a sketchbook could be, that it could be a work of art within itself. I have then always treated my sketch books like an extension of myself, I take them everywhere I sketch in them every single day.
I've been waiting for you guys to get to James Jean. He is nothing short of a once-in-a-generation phenom. Straight mastery. I used to pour over these sketches on his website and even had a couple printed on t-shirts.I would love to see you cover more of him, especially the sketchbooks. And speaking of Farel, how about covering Pop Gun War?
I have a signed copy of "Process Recess." I purchased a copy of James Jean's book at a comic-book store when it was published. A wise choice! Eventually, I interviewed Jean and met him at the Los Angeles Book Fair. A brilliant and truly versatile artist!
That was roughly around the time I met Farel. He and some of the Meathaus crew came to SPACE. I think Esau was there too. Story goes that James tagged along with Farel to a portfolio review at DC. Amazing drawers.
This is great, thank you guys.
His Batgirl #45 cover is one of the all time greats.
I somehow got this book when I was in high school, and it was monumentally important to me. I would bring it with me everywhere and would whip it out during class and just stare at these drawings. Jean is a colossal talent.
Ian Bertram. Newer school SVA Alum doing phenomenal work in comics as well as illustration.
I can tell you what the turning point was - he was trending with designer nerds for while, then he did some patterns for Prada and overnight the book went from 20-30 to 500$
Process Recess 3: Hallowed Seam is my most precious item I own, it is so amazing and inspiring, please do a video on that one day. Also love the idea of a sketchbook playlist, but would love for you guys to show us yours first!
James Jean was a guest at a local bookstore more than a decade ago and we were very fortunate to meet and talk to him. Great artist and a very, very humble person.
Defs make a sketchbook playlist! Could even be artist book/ sketchbook so you could have the Otomo and Darrow etc books in.
More james jean please :)
Killer video. Would love to see more on Jean/these types of sketchbooks.
James Jean changed the game for me. I hadn't seen someone combine that fine art kind of process of art, color and composition to comics. A painter friend of mine introduced me to his art and had specifically said that studying him would improve me as an comic artist and indeed it did.
Totally agree.
My favorite artist of all time!
Meathaus Love. ❤️👊🏽
I picked up Meathaus from the crew at a small press con in Columbus, OH. Surprised they're not more expensive. Love those books.
Don't have this one. But I have the 2007 Process Recess that was 11" x 15.5" spiral bound. It's still amazing to think about the speed of his trajectory..
I could never get into keeping a sketchbook. It just feels like I'm spinning my wheels when there's no other goal than just getting better at drawing.
Drawing needs to feel like an assignment in order to get me off my ass and start pushing myself.
Another artist I associate with this time period is Tomer Hanuka. He did some amazing Vertigo comic book covers, some interiors for another series, and then became a fine/commercial illustrator.
I'm totally with you on sketchbooks, if it isn't for a specific end I have trouble motivating myself to sketch in that way.
To me, a sketchbook is a great release, but also like an “art gym”. Also, quite often, it’s an incubator for future projects.
Nice. Got this when it came out!
and then he became the best illustrator in the world
Great video. I met James at comic con 03 and still have a print I picked up for like 20 bucks
love james jean
I sold a copy of this book prob 15 years ago for a few hundred bucksso I certainly love it for that reason
incredible
I have had a few James Jean videos pop up in my feed lately and, in truth, his work has always left me cold. The guy seems nice and his draftsmanship is impeccable, but it's like I can't see a person in it, just a drawing addict who has to hit the marks, over and over and over. Even the stuff where he's clearly going for emotional weight lands flat for me.
I get that vibe from other technically renowned folks too, so I don't think it's just him, it's just that I get bored by craft beyond a certain point. My mom would say this about classical musicians too(she played harp), that emotional quality is missing from some of the top technicians.
most of his art books are already $$$!
Yeah, this one has been over $300 since 2009!
This book is $500+ on ebay