Cbjames Art

02/04/2026

This Old Bug Has Stories to Tell🐞

Some cars are just transportation.
Others? They’ve seen things. 😏

I’m playing with a loose, expressive watercolor style here—less about perfect detail, more about mood, memory, and character. This little green Bug feels like it’s been parked outside a café since 1962, minding its own business and quietly judging your life choices.

01/28/2026

Working on something new in the studio today.

It's a style I've been developing that feels like my own little invention. I'm calling it Neo-Cubist Pop. This piece is still in the early stages, just sketching, structuring, and figuring things out. I'll share the finished version soon.

Curious what you think so far. 👀

01/04/2026

A New Wall for The ♥️Art of Helotes ✨

I’ve moved into a new spot in the main room at Helotes Gallery, featuring scenes from Cynthia Massey and my book The ♥️Art of Helotes. These familiar buildings and street views feel right at home together — telling the Helotes story beyond the page.

If you’re in Old Town, come see the book come to life on the wall. Signed copies of The ♥️Art of Helotes are also available at the Helotes Gallery.

09/26/2025

Cadillac Ranch – https://py.pl/1FWFrS
Pen & Ink Watercolor A bold and colorful take on Amarillo’s iconic Cadillac Ranch, where ten half-buried Cadillacs become a canvas for endless creativity. This Giclée archival print (8x10 on 11x14 museum-quality paper) brings the vibrant graffiti and Texas spirit of this landmark straight to your wall. Free shipping included.

09/23/2025

A whimsical journey through Old Town Helotes, told with paintings, architecture, and stories. This 48-page collection features 40 full-color pen-and-ink watercolors, each paired with text that gracefully weaves together the town’s history into a vivid and engaging timeline. https://py.pl/50XjWX3SDzK

"Beautiful paintings of Old Town architecture and the fascinating historical perspective of each building make this book enjoyable both as a resource and a collection of art." – Donald Darst, National Award-Winning Artist and a Founding Partner of Helotes Gallery.

“The Art of Helotes,” by artist Charles B. James (Cbjames Art) and HSH President Cynthia Massey (CLM Books), is a 48-page, full-color hardcover book featuring Charles’ beautiful watercolor illustrations and stories written by Cynthia about Old Town Helotes’ many unique buildings, people, and businesses. To purchase a copy of “The Art of Helotes,” visit https://py.pl/50XjWX3SDzK.

05/30/2025

Pen&Ink Watercolor from a photo I took over 10 years ago in Bandera, Texas.

04/18/2025

11th Street Cowboy Bar | Bandera, Texas

Charles started painting in 2022 and has developed a passion for urban sketching in pen and watercolors, focusing on architecture and street scenes captured from direct observation.

04/02/2025

Forest's Silent Watcher
In the twilight ethereal realm, where the forest weaves its ancient secrets, I present "Forest's Silent Watcher," a portal into the serene court of nature's enigma. Behold the fox, poised with untamed grace, as it turns its wise gaze toward the heavens, whispering tales only the woods understand. My fingers danced over the colored pencils, cascading hues of orange, white, and brown to capture the delicate textures of this mythical creature's fur. A soft blue sky cradles our watchful guardian, while the emerald embrace of grass offers a verdant sanctuary. Inspired by the fox's quiet majesty, this 8x10 piece marks my first venture with colored pencils, inviting you to wander into the stillness of the forest and unlock its mysteries, one gaze at a time.

02/20/2025

In the shadows and golden light realm, I've conjured a new creation, "Golden Gaze." This 8x10 masterpiece, crafted with pen and ink watercolor, unveils the spirit of a lion—a guardian perched on the edge of dreams and reality. The lion emerges in radiant hues of yellow and orange, its mane a cascade of flowing lines that whisper secrets of the savannah. The eyes, a striking yellow, hold an eternal wisdom, a beacon amidst the darker tapestry of the background. This dance between shadow and luminescence reflects the inner strength that drives us forward and the majestic beauty that leaves us in awe. Join me in this mystical journey, and let the "Golden Gaze" invite you into the enigmatic world where courage and imagination dwell.

Order link in the Comments $35

02/13/2025

Check It Out 😃

The Historical Society of Helotes has installed a new history exhibit at Helotes City Hall featuring “The Art of Helotes,” a 48-page, full-color hardcover book illustrated by artist Charles B. James (Cbjames Art) and written by HSH President Cynthia Massey (CLM Books).

“The Art of Helotes” is filled with Charles’ beautiful watercolor illustrations and Cynthia’s stories about Old Town Helotes’ many unique buildings, people, and businesses. It is dedicated to the Helotes pioneers who left a great legacy, and to those who have taken up the mantle to preserve it.

Please visit Helotes City Hall to view this colorful exhibit in the Society’s exhibit case, which will be on display until the summer.

01/26/2025

I’ve just finished my latest artwork, “Under the Pickleball Sky,” and I can hardly wait to share it! Imagine a place where pickleball courts, family fun, and nature come together, all wrapped up in one charming package. This 8x10 pen and ink watercolor captures the magical scene at “Pickle Pete's” in Helotes, where trees casually grow through the roof and picnic benches eagerly await your arrival. I’ve used rich greens, blues, and warm, earthy tones to bring this delightful scene to life. Creating this piece felt like painting a postcard from a perfect, lazy afternoon. So, swing by—metaphorically—and see the playful world through my eyes!