For many years, as a young boy, he enjoyed going to the Friday night stock car races. Unlike today, he couldn't go into a 5 and 10 cent store and buy toy replicas of his favorite heroes or their transportational wonders. Instead he used Balsa wood, old toothpaste tubes, tooth picks, glue and any other items his creative mind imagined, then transformed them into parts for his judiciously accurate miniature replicas of the cars he watched on Friday night. He reproduced every detail with exacting perfection. This collection is still one of his most priceless possessions.

James has had no formal training, allowing his gift to be freely exercised. His first attempts in portraiture were in high school. His favorite subject was Elvis. He also tried cartoons and humorous drawings, a skill which came in handy in his advertising career.

In the last few years, charcoal has become his medium for artistic expression. His portraits for stars such as Kevin Costner, Wes Studi and Jimmy Stewart consistently meet with warm approval, and continue to be in demand by countless admirers of his work. The attraction comes from his ability to open a window to the soul in the expression and spirit reflected in the eyes of his sensitively drawn subjects. He feels that drama and the impact of emotion can be best captured in black and white. This is well demonstrated in his Unbroken Spirit Collection featured in his first book, Rick and Jim's Real Reel Indians, published in 1994. His goal in these depictions was to show dignity, honor and respect for real Native American heroes.