James D. Kramer
A wise man once said, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder".
My interpretation of this statement goes beyond the attractiveness which we may find within others that draws us to them. I see this affecting my perception of everything. I can find "beauty" in everything from the most delicate flower, to the most mundane street sign. And it is with this approach to viewing the world around me that I approach my art.
About the Artist
James D. Kramer was born July 17, 1964 in Encino, California. He was raised in the San Fernando Valley, and received his bachelor of science degree in graphic design from Woodbury University in 1986. In 1992, Kramer served as President of the Santa Clarita Valley Artists' Association, located 10 miles north of the San Fernando Valley. As a member of the SCVAA, Kramer received numerous awards for his paintings, including Best of Show, and Best in Category.
Technique
The first thing to note about any of my images, is that I rarely have any sort of objective in mind when beginning the creative journey. I might have a vague notion of color palette, or symmetry. But any details beyond this, are secondary (or non-existant). The reason for this is that I generally prefer working entirely through the inspiration of the moment.
I work in three general processes of image creation:
Adobe Photoshop composition: These works are assembled entirely in Adobe Photoshop, although some components may also be created in Adobe Illustrator, or, may even be scanned in from other sources. Working in this process tends to result in more colorful pieces, although the creative solutions are more geometric in nature. When beginning a Photoshop composition, I frequently will begin working with basic shapes in one area of the canvas, working out from that location, creating layers, and achieving variation through use of transparency, highlight, and shadow.
3D rendering: These are pieces are created by utilizing a variety of applications, such as DAZ 3D, Hexagon, and Carrera. Additionally, most images will have further touch-up work in Adobe Photoshop. When working with 3D images, I concentrate on the interplay of transparency, reflectivity, and lighting against geometric forms. Investigating ways to bend light that may not seem obvious provides a particular challenge for me.
Work from photographic original: Such pieces are nearly always inspired on the spur of the moment. Having the good fortune of living in one of the most picturesque regions in the country, Puget Sound, opportunities for dramatic landscapes are around every turn. My technique of turning these wonderful vistas into abstractions begins with the digital camera. The images, which are usually a collage of several images combined, are traced and recolored in Adobe Illustrator to apply a high-resolution posterization effect to the image. Final image editing takes place in Photoshop where the completed work is produced.
