Gary James has led a life of adventure and, in his own way he still does, working as an artist in Murfreesboro, in his art-filled home, visiting his many “girlfriends,” and offering his couch to whichever of his nieces or nephews is in need of some guidance at the time.

Like most artists his walls are completely covered in works of art, his pieces, old and new, and things that inspire him, like photographs of beautiful women, angels and architecture.

James works at his well-used desk with a BIC pen poised in his steady hand, leaning over a picture of a beautiful young woman, her blond hair cascading over her arms, and wings spreading out behind her.

“This is probably one of the hardest paintings I’ve ever had to do,” James said, applying a judicious dot to the woman’s hair. For a man who figured out he was an artist at the age of 3, that’s saying something.

“There used to be white powder spread on my mother’s dresser,” James explained earnestly. “I used to stand their and draw pictures in it. I knew I was an artist.”

His young career included drawing unicorns to impress girls in the sixth grade and working as a one-man set designer for his high school’s drama department. He has been making money off his work since the age of 10.

“I spent all my young life drawing and learning how to draw,” James said. “I can draw any thing.”

He works on his blonde angel from a photograph of her, explaining the unique process he invited and now uses almost exclusively to create.

James uses a technique called pointillism, which he casually refers to as “the dots.”

“I started with the dots in 1974,” he said. “I was an apprentice at the Air Force Academy to a man who was probably one of the premiere men in the country.”

Each of his pictures is made up of thousands upon thousands of dots, made with one of his trusty BIC pens. Later he perfected the art of covering his work in plastic, then coloring them with beeswax color, a format he calls temperamental at best.

“I mix my color on the surface,” James said. “One false move and it’s ruined.”

James’ works are many and varied. He said his favorite is his cornucopia, a fantastical image standing alone with waves drawn all around it.

“I have two major influences, Van Gogh and M. C. Escher,” he said. The work of both artists pops up on occasion, in James’ versions of Sunflowers and a few Escher style labyrinth pieces.

His collection also includes extremely realistic architectural drawings of buildings, sometimes punched up with added color, combining his sense of fantasy and strict reality. His Nashville skyline is spot on, and his rendition of one of Murfreesboro’s ornate houses along Main Street is perfection.

His most recent work, the blond angel, is no fluke. Religion also plays a large part in James’ work and his life.

“You can do good things with God inside you,” he said. “I want to use my work to spread the gospel and the good news.”

There’s no sign of retirement in sight for James. He continues to create new pieces.

In the course of his life James has said he would draw any thing for a buck, and oftentimes his career took him that way, as a graphic designer, working as an illustrator for the Air Force, and for Murfreesboro’s Park Industries as an artist. He seems peaceful now, in his home and studio, working on the art he loves, although he does sell his prints and do commissioned portraits or other pieces upon request.

“I moved back to Murfreesboro in 1983,” James said. “I’ve been a freelance artist since then.

“I hope to make it to the big time,” he said. “I have a lot of good people behind me.”

For James making it big would mean national coverage. He said he plans to travel to see family in California soon for another show. His first art show was in Los Angeles, Calif., at the restaurant of a family member. Since then his art has been featured in 122 cities nationwide, and he has also been featured on Tennessee Crossroads.

To see more examples of his work, read his autobiography and visit his online store, visit garyjamesart.com.