Art & Life with James J. Fairbanks IV

Today we’d like to introduce you to James J. Fairbanks IV.

James J. Fairbanks IV is an animator, storyboard artist, screenwriter and children’s book author & illustrator. After graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in Screenwriting for Television Arts from California State University Northridge’s College of Arts, Media, and Communication in 2015, however upon realizing he also had a passion for drawing James started attended professional art training courses in Animation at the American Animation Institute in Burbank, CA. James was also awarded an Art Scholarship from the 2015 CSU Summer Arts program in illustrating and writing children’s books in Monterey Bay, California.

After releasing his first picture book, “Crystal & The Northern Lights” with Amazon in 2018, James founded 4th Scope Productions and began developing “Connie The Conjurer” an animated series dealing with topics right from his own childhood growing up with Asperger’s Syndrome. While it may be a fun and spooky show, at its core it shows how a child with social anxiety navigates the world. Both James and his animated concept have received positive reaction gaining a fanbase on Instagram and being shown on multiple media sources including L.A. Comic Con, Hollywire, Art of Autism, RAD TV and more. “Connie The Conjurer” is currently in the process of being pitched to well-known television and streaming networks.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Well the most accurate role I can describe myself in is of the role of “Storyteller”, being able to both draw my characters and worlds along with being able to write my own stories has enabled me to bring my messages to the world and not just messages but topics I feel benefits everyone. I see the platform of animation as not just a passion, but my own escape from realism. What I’ve come to learn from my time in both art school and film school is that animation provides the artist with an ability not every platform of media can provide and that’s that there is no limit to what your imagination can conjure up. If you can see in your mind, you will more likely then not see it in coming to life in front of you one frame at a time.

For anyone who wants to know what the significance of my artwork is, I would describe my art as “Meaningful” everything has to have a purpose behind it. Every character, setting or story I write has to (in my eyes) be able to give to the viewer something meaningful they can take away from engaging with it. When I draw, write, color, or whatever I create I want the person viewing it to feel “I’m really glad I took the time to really see this for what it is.” Anyone can draw, but it takes serious commitment and love to really give that drawing the life it needs to make an impact.

Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
As an artist, the greatest advice I can give to any young artists looking to forge their own paths is to do just that, “make your own path”. Very often I see young artists either giving up or feeling discouraged because they are not following the path of other artists who have reached success. This includes not getting into a certain art school, not reaching a skill set at a specified age, or thinking they got into the game too late. Like these discouraged artists, I too have felt that sense of dread and I wish I never did, but I never let it consume me and just kept rolling forward.

Someone once told me in life to “Keep On Keeping On” and despite being surrounded by more experienced individuals in art school, I never caved in to the pressure and knew right off the bat from the people I learned from that I didn’t need to go to this particular school or such to find success. The golden truth is “You Learn More From Yourself Than Anybody Else” not just as an artist but as a human being. Don’t ride anyone’s coattails, fortune favors the bold.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can find and support my art as well as my new animated series “Connie The Conjurer” by following my pages on Instagram and Facebook as well as my website listed below:

Instagram:
@connietheconjurer (The main page for my animated series, Connie The Conjurer)
@jf4draws (James Fairbanks IV, my own personal art page)

My Website (contains my bio, resume, contact information and additional art):
https://jjfairbanks4.wixsite.com/port 

Facebook: Connie The Conjurer

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jjfairbanks4.wixsite.com/port
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @jf4draws and @connietheconjurer
• Twitter: @jjfairbanks4

Image Credit:
All the artwork provided are the sole property of James J. Fairbanks IV

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