Every day this month we’ll be showcasing one of the artists and authors in the new ‘Art of Sherlock Holmes’ project – today it’s artist JR Linton.

JR Linton’s parents recognized his gift as an artist. Once the paint was shaved off of the family dog, they encouraged him to move to other media. As his talent and desire to create grew, his dad would steal reams and reams of 11 x 17 paper from his office to feed his son’s growing habit. His mom would keep him on a steady diet of Kool-Aid and American-cheese-and-mustard sandwiches. This kept his mind sharp and his pencils sharper.

He received his first break in the world of professional graphic arts at the age of 16, working for a local comic book creator and publisher. Many a late night, he stayed up doing paste-up, inking and coloring on books that nobody read. When the company tanked suddenly, Linton found his way to the world of digital art and web design. Here, his highly analytical mind (an more Kool-Aid) helped him achieve an excellent understanding of interactive arts and computer programming. Having actually visited every page on the internet, he then began his journey into tattooing. Here, he could delve into his favorite two pastimes: art, and hurting people and getting paid for it. As a tattoo artist, Linton was able to return to his traditional art roots, yet still maintain a connection to the technology he has learned over the past ten years.

(One of JR’s physical pieces, original acrylic art on a radiator……)

For the Art of Sherlock Holmes JR has created an iconic piece – one that Sherlock collectors will be fighting over when the Art of Sherlock Holmes gallery exhibition opens in May – here is a glimpse;

JR is one of fifteen artists who have created new pieces for The Art of Sherlock Holmes West Palm Beach Edition which is published in May and available now on Kickstarter – The Art of Sherlock Holmes.