James Deatherage
Visiting Assistant Professor of Illustration
James Deatherage (formerly James Mied) is a wizard, freelance illustrator, and educator living in Kansas City, Missouri. James is a bachelor and master of the arts, having graduated from KCAI in 2018, and graduated with a masters from SVA in 2024. He has published work for the Kansas City Star, The Pitch, ErgoComical Studios, and Andrew McNeel’s Publishing. He is a narrative illustrator and has illustrated for “Lord O’sis” released in 2021 and “A Haunted Road Atlas” released in 2022 and it’s sequel “A Haunted Road Atlas Next Stop” released in 2024. James Deatherage illustrates colorful, whimsical, and queer narratives, drawing upon cartoons, mythology, fantasy, and art history as a source of inspiration.
He’s fond of illustrating florals, organic shapes, unicorns, and tasty looking food among other subject matter. His skills include Riso graph printing, wood burning, and watercolors. His crystal orb shows him visions of working on video games, illustrating as an art director, and publishing his MFA senior Thesis project Bounty, a long-running graphic novel series. So if you are in need of an illustrator for any of these projects consider reaching out. When he isn’t casting spells to create magical illustrations or cuddling with his husband Duke, he is concocting spells to grow his plants and revels in the other dark arts such as movies, video games, & books.