Ruel James combines multiple passions in his art

Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999 | 9:30 a.m.

The art of Ruel James gives new meaning to the term "auto-erotic."

To a psychiatrist it means one thing, but to James it is something else entirely.

"To me, the image of a car is one of a kind," James, in his refined, British accent, said. "It is something people fantasize about."

The 50-year-old Las Vegas artist, who was born in Jamaica and grew up in England, is internationally acclaimed for his paintings of cars -- but his favorite subject is the female body.

Often he combines the two passions, putting erotic women on exotic cars, and when he discusses them the lines blur.

Both deal in fantasy -- an average man may never own a Ferrari or have an international beauty queen on his arm, but he can fantasize about the possibilities.

Some of James' work can be seen at the Art Encounter, 3979 Spring Mountain Road, and at Azariah Art, 1717 S. Decatur Blvd.

The lines that form the cars in James' automobile paintings have the same elegant, evocative sensation that form the shapely women he creates on canvas.

Many of James' paintings of women are risque -- some say a few of them are almost pornographic -- but all are provocative, just as his paintings of Corvettes and Cobras are provocative.

James was born in Jamaica and reared in England, where his artistic talents were recognized early and he was admitted to the prestigious Royal College of Art.

He became an accomplished painter -- as well as a sculptor -- in all media.

After graduation James spent years building his reputation as a commercial artist in Europe and the United States. Among his long list of clients were Pepsi, Coca Cola, Calvin Klein, Levis, Avon, Ford and General Motors.

Many automobile manufacturing companies commissioned James to capture their products on canvas -- companies such as Jaguar, Ferrari, Mercedes Benz and Aston Martin.

Eventually James migrated to New York City, where he worked for various Fortune 500 companies and, 10 years ago, married fashion model Sheryl Bryant.

After marrying the couple moved to Los Angeles and opened an art gallery.

Five years ago, after an earthquake destroyed the gallery, they moved to Las Vegas with their three children, Ruel Jr., 9, Cristal, 7, and Kirstie, 5.

"Actually, three major things happened to cause us to move," said James, who has not lost his British accent despite many years in the United States. "There was a major fire and there were the race riots."

It was the earthquake that clinched the decision to move to Las Vegas.

He said that where he lives is not important because he receives commissions to do paintings from around the world.

James is adding a new dimension to his career in Las Vegas. Recently he established a company called The Art of Cars.

He is looking for a location for the specialty shop, which will be for collectors of miniature, die-cast cars. He said collectors will be able to select from 8,000 models as well as buy posters and paintings of more than 100 cars he has done over the years.