About Artist

James C. Gill II is a native of Houston, Texas. His natural talent for drawing was recognized around the early age of seven. At the age of 12 while visiting a local mall he witnessed Portrait Artist James Jennings painting a beautiful realistic portrait in pastel. From that encounter he discovered his passion for portrait painting.

In 1982 James began his formal education as an artist by attending Texas A&M-Commerce Texas where he double majored in commercial art and Fine Art. In 1987 he move back to Houston and began his career in art as a graphic designer and illustrator working in the textile printing industry, creating high-end designs and illustrations for t-shirts and other textile garments. In 1990 he decided to started his own business he named Gillustrations Inc., and for the next 13 years, joined by two additional partners, his company designed and printed high-end t-shirt designs for clients nationwide. But creating t-shirts designs could not satisfy his creative thirst for painting portraits and still life. So in 2003 his company folded and James began to refocus his attention on painting. To improve on his skills he gathered instructional books an CD's and studied the styles of well known masters of portrait painting like Daniel Greene, John Sanden, and Marvin Mattelson. He also credits several artist friends that have influence him and made a profound impression on his creative path.

James has since created several public and private commissions for families, individuals, and business clients. He has developed his own style of capturing the unique personality of his subjects. Each subject that he paints is like taking a new journey and it is this challenge that inspires him.

James C. Gill II is a native of Houston, Texas. His natural talent for drawing was recognized around the early age of seven. At the age of 12 while visiting a local mall he witnessed Portrait Artist James Jennings painting a beautiful realistic portrait in pastel. From that encounter he discovered his passion for portrait painting.

In 1982 James began his formal education as an artist by attending Texas A&M-Commerce Texas where he double majored in commercial art and Fine Art. In 1987 he move back to Houston and began his career in art as a graphic designer and illustrator working in the textile printing industry, creating high-end designs and illustrations for t-shirts and other textile garments. In 1990 he decided to started his own business he named Gillustrations Inc., and for the next 13 years, joined by two additional partners, his company designed and printed high-end t-shirt designs for clients nationwide. But creating t-shirts designs could not satisfy his creative thirst for painting portraits and still life. So in 2003 his company folded and James began to refocus his attention on painting. To improve on his skills he gathered instructional books an CD's and studied the styles of well known masters of portrait painting like Daniel Greene, John Sanden, and Marvin Mattelson. He also credits several artist friends that have influence him and made a profound impression on his creative path.

James has since created several public and private commissions for families, individuals, and business clients. He has developed his own style of capturing the unique personality of his subjects. Each subject that he paints is like taking a new journey and it is this challenge that inspires him.