I’ve been fascinated with augmented reality (AR) since learning about projects like Layar and WordLens. These apps combine the camera, GPS, gyros, processing power and constant connectedness of smart phones to add layers of meta-information on top of the world around us. My interest in this application of technology and information should come as no surprise—technical [...]
Augmented Reality, or AR, is a general term for manipulating our experience of the world around us with technology. Today it means pointing your smartphone camera at a restaurant and getting reviews. Tomorrow it might mean complete immersion into a customizable version of reality via 3D stereoscopic camera/video headsets.
I got an early start on my spring cleaning and today I debut two new portfolios. The first is a selection of information graphics, or infographics, I’ve created for various clients. Infographics are any form of visual communication design, regardless of content or style. Since technical illustration might be considered a subset of this broadly [...]
It should come as no surprise that I’m a huge fan of Mythbusters. I like their “failure is always an option” maxim, meaning if you have an idea you should try it out, what’s the worst that can happen? While watching the program one day, I noticed something weird about their forklift — it moved [...]
James Provost grew up drawing, playing with computers and taking things apart to learn how they worked. These interests united in the BA Technical Illustration program at Sheridan College, where he graduated with honours. Since then, James has been freelancing fulltime for advertising, design, engineering, manufacturing and publishing clients, creating highly detailed and accurate illustrations [...]
For more information or to inquire about availability and pricing for your project, please contact me at: Email info@jamesprovost.com Main Line 416-669-5448 New York 718-717-7990 Bio James Provost grew up drawing, playing with computers and taking things apart to see how they worked. These interests united in the Bachelor of Arts Technical Illustration program [...]
I’ve been receiving questions from a number of people curious about technical illustration. For the benefit of anyone else who’s interested, here’s some of the questions and answers: What does a technical illustrator do? What is technical illustration? “Technical illustrators create highly accurate renderings of machinery, instruments, scientific subjects…technology, cartography, or virtually any subject that [...]
Maker Faire was a blast! Lots of amazing things to see and do. I saw some great presentations, inventions, projects and kits and even did some tinkering of my own. When I got back, I was inspired to do a DIY spot illustration series to capture the energy and creativity of everything I saw.
This weekend I’m headed to San Francisco for Maker Faire, the world’s largest DIY arts & technology festival. Looking forward to seeing Bre Pettis & MakerBot and Jared Boone & the Make:TV crew and their Episode Dispensor, both projects I helped out with some design & illustration work. Hope to meet a lot of people, [...]
I’d just like to take a minute to wish everyone happy holidays and say thanks for a great year. I’m sending out a holiday card and thought I’d share it here. Green technology has been top-of-mind throughout 2008 – hybrid cars, solar panels and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) were all trendsetting Google search terms. If [...]
New to the site is a phantom illustration of a cordless circular saw featuring the next generation of rechargable batteries. Nanophosphate lithium-ion batteries are said to recharge in minutes rather than hours, have ten times the life cycle and double the capacity of current rechargable batteries. These batteries are currently being tested in consumer electronics, [...]
In his article for The Boston Globe, Dushko Petrovich looks at the work of American wildlife illustrator John James Audubon and reveals why illustration remains the medium of choice for scientific reference. “When we turn to a picture to identify a bird – or the human pancreas, or a Doric column – we want a [...]
I’ll be participating in the Philip Greenspun Illustration Project, a project to fund the creation and improvement of illustrations for Wikimedia, the foundation that runs the free online encyclopedia, Wikipedia. This project is made possible by a personal contribution from internet entrepreneur Philip Greenspun, who acknowledges the importance and efficacy of visual communication. He and [...]