JAMES E. LYLE, ILLUSTRATOR
89 Walker Road, Waynesville, NC 28786
www.jameslyle.net • 828.456.5807

doodlelyle at aol.com

Book and Magazine Illustration • Hand Colored Pieces • Digital Art • Commissions • Prints • Package Design • Sequential Art • Cartoon • Client List • Contact

NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF JAMES LYLE

James will be at the Chickamauga, Georgia Public Library, 306 Cove Rd., Tuesday, June 15 from 3:30 on, with two programs of "Brainstorming a Superhero" and selling/signing artwork.

James and Michael Woodring's graphic novel/web comic Dark Candle, set in 10th-century Bavaria, has begun at darkcandle.net. The story is free to view, with updates on Thursday evenings. Praise is already pouring in about the series. "As an accomplished illustrator, Lyle’s masterful use of close-ups, long shots and combinations give the storyline the dramatic graphics that lead the reader eagerly to the next page,” wrote Dennis the Menace illustrator Marcus Hamilton. "Dark Candle is an intriguing story combining an historic medieval setting with a timeless tale of romance. Lyle's art lends cinematic pacing to the story and captures the drama in such a way that the reader will feel immediately engaged with the characters. His expert draughtsmanship has the classic illustrative look that conveys the period with convincing detail," wrote three time Reuben Award winning illustrator Jack Pittman.

James has launched a fun webcomic at thepluscomic.com. Check it out here!

Saturday, May 15, 2010, beautiful downtown Asheville, North Carolina will play host to FANATICON, a celebration of comic book culture and its fans. The event will take place at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 South Pack Square. Come see James and join in the fun! More information at www.fanaticon.org.

June 4 through 6, say hi to James at Heroes Convention Charlotte at the Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St., Charlotte, North Carolina. Started in 1980 by a then 26-year-old Shelton Drum, owner of Heroes Aren't Hard to Find, the show is a fan favorite. Find out why at www.heroesonline.com/heroescon.

James recently completed an interview for the 2010 edition of "Artist's and Graphic Designer's Market," an annual resource book for freelancers first published over 30 years ago. Among the market listings and industry contacts, insider advice and marketing ideas are a few, choice reviews of current artists. In 2008's edition James received recognition for his illustrations for Weekly Reader magazines.

Free Comic Book Day, May 1, 2010, James is scheduled to appear at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library as a special guest, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. He will present a program on comic book art, career and a demonstration of technique. Visitors are encouraged to wear a costume, draw comics, check out books, graphic novels and manga, and bring something for the bring-one-take-one swap table. Info at www.lib.chattanooga.gov.

James has been selected to be a judge for the 2009 GameX Steampunk Art Competition, a one-of-a-kind science fiction/fantasy art contest designed to support and promote artists in the games, film and comic art communities. The competition is presented in conjunction with the GameX game consumer show and industry conference, October 23 through 25 in Philadelphia. Other judges include talent from companies such as Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, Universal Studios, 2K Boston, Ubisoft and Turbine. Check out GameX at www.gamexpo.us.

James' EGBA Custom Comic Book Invitation designs were praised as a "Cool Mom Pick" at the coolmompicks.com website and even made the "Geek Dad" Section of Wired online! Egba Originals custom comic book invites are created to order, using a custom-drawn image of the guest of honor and the theme of the event. They are even packaged in comic sleeves and envelopes like collector’s items. Check 'em out at egbaoriginals.com/comic.html.

Sometimes a story is well worth waiting for. James drew "The Tragedy of Falstaff," featured in Negative Burn #21, on sale now. But the project was originally drawn for Caliber comics, a Saint Germaine story written by Gary Reed, who called James to finish it up, 10 years later, for Negative Burn. Caliber in its day, and Negative Burn now, are known for their mix of comic industry name talent and excellent newcomers. Negative Burn #21 can be ordered at your local comic shop.

James is now the Vice Chairman of the Southeast Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society, information at www.secncs.com. The National Cartoonists Society was born in March 1946, with Rube Goldberg as president, Russell Patterson as vice president, C.D. Russell as secretary and Milton Caniff as treasurer. The NCS now has chartered 16 regional chapters throughout the United States and one in Canada. NCS information is at reuben.org.

James' work is now featured on the Ride the Dragon Game, based on the famous 318 curves in 11 miles at Deals Gap in the foothills of North Carolina and Tennessee. Collectible, pewter game pieces are moved along James' colorful dragon's tail illustration, avoiding the pitfalls of Fate cards.

"Adam Among the Gods" was illustrated by James in 2008 for Aazurn Publishing, now in comic book shops and online at Aazurn.com.

James' illustrations are featured in a new collection of Saint Germaine - Tales of an Immortal from Transfuzion Publishing. The collection was written by Gary Reed and James' work appears with artists Vince Locke, Andy Bennett, Tom Bionodillo and Guy Davis.

The Asheville Citizen-Times ran a picture and article of James drawing with fourth and fifth graders at a local library event December 13, 2007.