Creation

March 15, 2026March 15, 2026 / Daniel J. James / Leave a comment

I suppose where I am right now is expressing what it feels like to create things. This one was very much a trust the process thing, but not in the way it usually is. The artwork started out strong, and there was never a point where I felt it wouldn’t turn out good. The process was more of an internal thing for me. Understanding this thing I was creating. Understanding that it wasn’t about death, pain, or sadness, but about art and creation taking root and springing forth as a sublime thing. Sometimes I work to create what is in my head, but this time, I was creating a thing, and the work was to understand it.

-Daniel J. James-

Creative Burst!

February 28, 2026 / Daniel J. James / Leave a comment

For a while now I’ve been on this journey to bring authenticity into my art, but admittedly, even I wasn’t 100% sure what that meant. I just knew that I was on on a journey to find parts of myself that were missing. I’ve been looking for passion, and joy, and truth that I’d been missing it.

I’d been trying to draw out something within myself and failing at it. But I know not that even failing is good and part of the journey. Because in failing, I’ve still been trying, and working, and building.

In the absence of joy, I’ve been practicing skill. In my want for passion, I’ve been acquiring technique. In my search to truth, I found grace.

This journey is of course a lifelong one, and every road is different. Falling back on the familiar road can help to keep moving, but trotting a different road brings with it new knowledge.

The key to this journey has been to keep moving. Even when lost. Even when confused. Even when tired. Sometimes the cycle was rest, cry, and throw things, but at some point come back to it.

I think in this new artwork, I’ve truly found a lot of what I’ve been looking, and the funny thing is, it’s made up of a work I did while on the journey to get to this piece.

It’s simple.

But it speaks loudly with my authentic voice.

-Daniel J. James-

Hope lost…

February 21, 2026 / Daniel J. James / Leave a comment

So… I drew this a little time ago. The last couple years I’ve been content. I’ve been in a okay place mentally and generally happy. But what I hadn’t been is hopeful. Being hopeful was something that was defining for me for most of my life. But life be lifeing, and hope became painful. It’s only recently that I’ve began to feel hope in a way that feels encouraging again. In that, I drew this to process what losing hope felt like for me. I’m regaining parts of myself I felt were pulled away, and hope is starting to feel normal again.

41

September 17, 2025 / Daniel J. James / Leave a comment

Sooo… it’s my Birthday.

Usually my birthday comes with some kind of emotion or anxiety, or feelings of some sort.

But not this year.

This year I feel hopeful.

This year I feel a little more steady.

And honestly, this year I have a few less fucks to give (which is a good thing).

I feel more ready to lose.

I feel more comfortable with a win.

I feel like like I want that authenticity more, and I’m more clear on what that means for me.

So… Happy Birthday to Me!

Excited to see what another year brings.

Let it go…

April 12, 2025 / Daniel J. James / Leave a comment

Dear Black Women. Dear Black People. Dear World.

It’s okay to let it go.

The pain and the trauma and the hurt that someone else gave to you, it’s alright to release it and lay it down.

I’ve been seeing this a lot as of late. The Universe is not only giving permission, but it is in need of people, especially Black Women, to let go of the pain they’ve been holding on to like a dear treasure.

This is not a call to forget, and it’s damn sure not a call to forgive, but it is a call to freedom.

That cage that someone, or something, or some happening put you in, that is not your home.

Do what you have to do to heal, for your own sake.

Not because someone needs you to be better, or because someone else needs you to be your best you.

Heal because you deserve to be your best you, for YOU.

Heal because you deserve all the light, and love, and joy that this world has to offer, and you deserve to grab on to all the goodness with both hands, but you have to empty it of that thing you’re holding on to, to fully grasp the goodness.

It’s not your fault, but it is your responsibility to get help.

Talk about it.

Stop protecting the ones who gave you hurt.

Go to therapy.

Pray.

Meditate.

Drink water.

Eat good food.

Take your medication.

Tell your story.

Be free.

small victories.

February 23, 2025 / Daniel J. James / Leave a comment

I struggle sometimes to find faith in myself. Or maybe I should say that I’m struggling. Hitting those moments when you feel like you’ve given something all you’ve got and it’s not enough can be even more draining. I’m praying for a few small victories to help me through, cause man, I need a win bad…

-Daniel J. James-

My first…

February 22, 2025 / Daniel J. James / Leave a comment

I used to really struggle with sketching on digital. So what I used to do was I would do my drawings on paper, scan them, and then add digital color. This little guy here was the first sketch and color I did years ago that is completely digital, and he opened a door for me that allowed me expand on my skill set. The past few months I haven’t been working so much in digital, but with the stories that I have upcoming, I think it would be wise of me to step back into that mode…

-Daniel J. James-