James Nelms, Graphic Artist, Photographer, slightly off-kilter human being
Depending on your perspective, James is either a graphic designer, a photographer, or a streetcar operator in training! James follows in the footsteps of other talented graphic designers who have contributed to Pegasus Theatre over the years. We sat down to talk with him about his craft and his work with Pegasus.
When did you first start working with Pegasus Theatre?
My first show as an audience member was the 2013 production of XSR:Die! by Kurt Kleinmann. After that I did some graphic work on individual shows starting in 2014. This is the first season where I came up with an over-arching concept for the season and did all of the show graphics.
This year’s graphics are wonderful! Where did you get the idea for them?
Art gave me the initial idea. [Editor’s note: That’s Art Kedzierski, our Managing Director.] He wanted graphics for the Black & White shows that were evocative of movie posters from the 1930s and 1940s, using predominantly red and black and highlighting with sepia tones. I realized that the layout and format of old movie lobby cards would be a better fit, and that’s what I used as inspiration. I also drew inspiration from specific old movies, like Abbott and Costello, the “Road” movies.
I wanted the audience to be reminded of the screwball comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. It’s one of my favorite eras, artistically speaking. You’ll notice that each design (for the Living Black and White™ and RadioVizion™ shows) has two themes on each card, with a mix of photos and illustrations. The same themes carried over to the background for some of the opening video.
For the final show of the season, The Coarse Actor Rises! by Kurt Kleinmann, I took my inspiration from two sources: Monty Python, and woodcuts used for old medieval puppet shows.
Tell us a little about your background.
After graduating from the University of Arlington with a degree in Art (minor in Art History), I worked for the Dallas Morning News for five years. Then I moved to Los Angeles, which was a great place to be as a graphic artist. I did a multitude of jobs: worked for a small paper; did freelance work on trading cards, billboard promotions, the Disney catalog. I was a contributing artist to The Phantom Menace as well as the Monty Python video game based on The Meaning of Life. In the early 2000s, I worked as a TV storyboard artist for ad agencies.
In 2008, I moved back to Texas, doing freelance work on things like Nintendo video games, air show posters, company logos. Three years ago I began to work as a photographer as well. Most recently, I’ve been training with the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority to learn to run a streetcar.
That’s an impressive resume! What keeps you coming back to Pegasus?
Part of the draw is the opportunity to work on art from one of my favorite eras. I also love the fact that Art and I speak the same language when it comes to graphic design. We go back many years, having met in high school, and we’re able to speak in a shorthand that is very collaborative.
See more of James’ amazing work on his website at http://www.jdnelms.com.