Born in Washington, DC and raised in Fort Washington, MD Gordon C. James has been pursuing an art career ever since attending high school at Suitland Center for the Visual and Performing Arts in Forestville, Maryland. From there he went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration from School of Visual Arts in New York City. Gordon was one of only two full time illustrators hired to work for Hallmark Cards Inc. After Hallmark, he became an award winning fine artist. His beautiful figurative paintings being featured in International Artist Magazine and his work is part of the Paul R. Jones Collection at the University of Alabama. Gordon brings the same passion to his illustrations. They are soulful, emotive and technically sound. He works hard so that we know how the characters look and most importantly exactly how they feel. Gordon C. James is now a best selling, award winning children’s book illustrator. Among his many accolades are Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honors and a Society of Illustrators Gold Medal.
He is also the only illustrator to have won the prestigious Kirkus Prize for Young Readers Literature twice. His work includes CROWN AN ODE TO THE FRESH CUT, I AM EVERY GOOD THING, LET ‘ER BUCK! and JUST LIKE JESSE OWENS, by Ambassador Andrew Young as told to Paula Young Shelton.
Currently along side of his illustration work, Gordon has returned to his fine art roots. He combines the classical figure painting and vibrant abstraction as he explores the black body and its place in the world.
Gordon C. James lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife Ingrid and their two children Astrid and Gabriel, and their pets Rascal the dog and Ricky the gecko.
He is proud to create beautiful works of art that tell stories on bookshelves as well as museum and gallery walls.
Visit Gordon’s website: https://www.gordoncjames.com/
