By: John Hauser     (click on any image for a larger view)

In the art world, you have your “Masters.” It’s a title hardly ever given because so rarely does someone achieve a level of skill combined with vision to be worthy of that distinction. The world of R/C painting is not unlike its canvas cousin, though on a smaller scale. Having followed R/C painters for the past 8 years, I’ve seen the best of the best and can tell you there are perhaps 10 to 20 people worldwide who fall into the “Masters” category. In order for a painter to achieve the masters level, they need to show amazing skill, impeccable craftsmanship and unique style and vision. One of the few who has earned a right to the title is JS Bodies.

James Shanley, owner of JS Bodies, has been painting for longer then the average R/Car has been breathing! James father was an old school sign painter and James first learned how to paint when he was about 5 years old. In fact, his path in painting started with his lettering signs for his fathers business. Growing up, James developed his artistic skills by copying work from comic books. He says the amount of depth and contrasts in comics helped influence a lot of the style you see in his R/C work. In fact, one of his trademarks is bright fluorescent contracts colors. Through art classes in high school, James continued to develop both his skill and understanding of art. High school also brought on a new medium to his artistic arsenal when he acquired his first airbrush back in 1982.

Along the way, James found R/C and after painting just his 5th airbrushed body, he decided to enter a concourse competition and took home second place! That was the first time he realized he had some God given talent and could possibly make a living selling his R/C work. He quickly became known for his bright, colorful bodies. As an off road racer, where dust and jumps can narrow your visibility considerably, James’s saw the need for easy to see bodies and as you can see, his wild fluorescents can be seen from a mile away. In addition to his bright contrasting bodies, James is know for his wild “flames with in flames” paint work.

In 1996, James started his career as a part time painter and what a career its been! JS Bodies is easily one of the most recognizable names in professional R/C painting. I can’t tell you the exact number due to confidentiality, but I can say while most painters are content to have a few local loyal customers, James’s repeat customer list is world wide and goes into the triple digits and includes professional racers and a Lexan body manufacturer. In 2000, he left his job in the air conditioning industry and has done what very few have done before him, painted r/c cars professionally full time. Since then, his business has expanded into a full time hobby shop with an off road track! For an R/C painter, reputation is everything. His goal is customer happiness and it appears he has achieved that since 99% of his customers say their bodies are above and beyond their expectations.

James offers a few tips for people new to painting, “With liquid mask, find the design you like, then draw the cool flames and use tracing paper and trace it and copy it to the other side. Now you’ll have an exact copy.” He also recommends you don’t try to pack too much into a body. “Use just 4 colors or less until you get used to it.” Lastly, James recommends you practice using your airbrush and paints prior to experimenting on a body. To avoid costly mistakes with your first few bodies, James says “Know what paint works and how it will spray before you spray it.”

If you are a racer or simply a collector of painted R/C bodies, your collection isn’t complete until you have a body painted by James in your body group!

James Shanley
Website: http://www.jsbodies.com/
Email: JSHobbies@aol.com