I’m James “Jami” Talon, and although most would call me a local Austin artist, I think of myself more as a creative tinkerer. While I’m not a huge fan of labels, I suppose they’re a bit useful on an about page, so why not add that I am also a nonbinary trans, queer, autistic/adhd person, with lots of hobbies and interests (possibly thanks to the adhd?!).

My blog is a bit reflective of how scattered those interests are, including posts of recipes, reuse DIY, and philosophy / musings / thoughts. I love deep conversations and meaningful exchanges, so please share your thoughts in the comments! If you’re curious about any of my special interests you can also visit my neocities webpage!

As far as art goes: I am a mixed media artist, and I get many of my materials from local creative reuse centers and thrift stores. I was Art Director and Producer for the social game Furcadia for about a decade, and got a degree in Linguistics. I’ve taught art lessons to both kids and adults as a part time instructor on my own, as well as for Cordovan Art School and Painting with a Twist.

Art is about expression visually, and for me I’ve also always wanted to carve sounds to express myself musically. Ever since I can remember I’ve been obsessed with music, and would have ideas for songs that never went very far. But thanks to an excellent tutor with an unfathomably magical ear for rhythm (my partner, Nicole), I’ve been learning how to work with soundwaves in depth! We’ve produced a bunch of electronic songs this past year on our shared soundcloud, and I’m forever grateful for her support.

I love to create, and so my focus remains on my creative journey as a whole. I hope you’ll enjoy what you find on my site as I explore all the nooks and crannies of self expression. Thanks for browsing! 🙂

Artist Statement

“Nature and the complex systems of animals and plants has fascinated me ever since I was little. It’s crazy how something normally seen as trivial, like a resource fight between ants and a bird, will utterly captivate me when I’m out in the forest.

My process starts by being out in the wilderness: majestic woods, mountains, greenbelts. This keeps my passion and inspiration flowing. At home as I gather reused materials, I think about how they might be incorporated to emphasize what’s on my mind. Often a compelling visual idea will strike me as I pick up a certain piece of “trash” – and then I’m off to paint!

While humanity has gotten really good at breaking complex things down into single elements, I want to emulate more of the grandness I see in nature: many small things combining into something new and powerful. What better way to do that than with my own art?

Art Awards

  • Solo show at Fat Cats Cafe (current) – Austin, TX
  • Solo show at New Hope Realty (’21) – Cedar Park, TX
  • Big Medium Studio Tour (’20) – Austin, TX
  • Austin Creative Reuse Art Gallery juried show (’20) – Austin, TX
  • Georgetown Art Center juried show “Art Hop” (’20) – Georgetown, TX
  • Art for the People Gallery juried show “Austin Art + Love = Home” (’20) – Austin, TX
  • R Gallery juried show “Animalia” (’20) – Boulder, CO
  • Art for the People Gallery juried show “Pet & People Portraits” (’20) – Austin, TX
  • R Gallery juried show “Upcycled Creative Reuse” (’20) – Boulder, CO
  • Georgetown Art Center juried show “Critters: Our Animal World” (’20) – Georgetown, TX
  • Art for the People Gallery juried show “Adventure, Fantasy & Fun” (’19) – Austin, TX
  • Anthrocon People’s Choice Art award (‘16) – Pittsburgh, PA
  • Dean’s Honor Roll – College of Visual Art and Design (‘11, ‘12) – Denton, TX
  • UNICEF Art Contest Winner (‘11) – Denton, TX
  • TAEA Flag Design Contest Sole Winner (‘09) – Houston, TX
    • For Youth Art Month – Sole winner for the Texas flag design. Art design was made into a flag and was flown at the capital buildings in Washington DC and Austin.
  • TX State VASE All State Superior Rating (‘08, ‘09, ‘09) – Houston, TX
    • Awarded 3 times in two consecutive years: Top 1,000 entries out of more than 20,000 pieces
  • Houston Rodeo Art Contest Gold Medal (‘08, ‘09) – Houston, TX
    • Awarded 2 times in two consecutive years. Represented entire school district from overall more than 300,000 entries
  • TX State VASE – Gold Seal (‘06) – Houston, TX
    • Awarded to the top 150 entries out of more than 20,000 pieces.