James Hickey

Description	:	James Hickey's creative and conceptual photography is an illustrative insight into his life perspective. His ideas are often mixed with bold color and whimsical twists allowing a viewer entrance into a cadenced abstract imagination. Employing a strong dose of magical thinking and spontaneity mixed with hard work and determination led him to this set of vivid and expressive images. All the images for the show were conceptualized, shoot, and printed by James in his Los Angeles studio. The series starts with Bubble Gum Glam. Seeing this vivacious character in tiny pink hot pants quickly lead to this light and whimsical concept. The Ally Cat and Fashion Peacock, another spontaneous set of images, are surreal and fashionable interpretations of animals. The specious cat on the counter, sass in the air flaunting dominant submission, and the graceful peacock that connotes an ethereal presence are examples of this vision. The most recent addition is The Boxer. The hard lighting and powerful catch lights in her eyes give this girl her stark intensity. She is the only villain of the series, the rest are softer interpretations of imaginary characters. Much focus of attention rests with body geometry and the shapes the characters create: purposeful lines and angles direct the eye around the image with intrinsic ease. Hands are manipulated to create another flow within and around the image. The craft requires a developed perceptual understanding of the way people will be viewed two dimensionally.