Writer, artist and illustrator
About the artist
jamescallahanart [at] gmail [dot] com
James “Barf” Callahan is a writer and illustrator living and working on the east coast of the U.S., often under the less innocuous moniker of Barf Comics. Since graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts and Design from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2001, he has gone on to write for a multitude of publications and illustrate hundreds of comic pages, record covers, skateboards, snowboards, shirt designs, and virtually every other printable surface known to man.
founded Nowhere Skateboards in 2001
illustrated Strange Detective Tales 2002 - 2005
wrote and illustrated Rotting In Dirtville 2005
compiled and designed Barf Comics vol. 1 2007
wrote and illustrated Booyah the Oblitorator 2008
illustrated Fear Agent (#23) backup story Dark Horse Comics 2008
wrote and illustrated Summon the Snake Beast 2009
art directed Born Ugly Magazine 2009 - 2011
illustrated Thrasher Magazine articles 2010 - 2014
illustrated Heart Breakers anthology (#1) Marvel Comics 2010
illustrated The Auteur from Oni Press 2011 - 2015
illustrated cover of Rick and Morty graphic novel 2016
illustrated interactive web comic for Thrasher Magazine 2017
visual development for national ad campaign for Geico 2018
mural work for Dear Hearts, Well Traveled Beer, Strange Ways, Welcoming Walls 2018
featured artist in Murals of Richmond 2019
CLIENTS
COMICS
Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Oddgod Press, Gigantic Graphic Novels, Born Ugly Magazine, McGraw-Hill, Dark Horse Comics, War for Kaleb, Rick and Morty, No Holds Bard
SNOWBOARDS
Grenade Gloves, Transworld Snow, Rome SDS
RECORD LABELS
Vagrant, Earache, TKO, Forcefield, Tankcrimes, Rorschach, Riot Style, Thorp, No Idea, Beach Community, Vinyl Conflict
BANDS
Municipal Waste, Mastodon, The Dwarves, Strike Anywhere, Iron Reagan, Antiseen, RPG, Lower Class Brats, Revocation, Cannabis Corpse, Pink Razors, the Hold Steady, Constrictor, Cough, Brainworms, Savage Brewtality, the Gaskets, the Catalyst, Down To Nothing, Microjoy, Voetsek, Falcon Lords, the Fad, Battlemaster, Inter Arma, Kids Like Us, Landmines, Eaten Alive, the 357′s, New Rock Church of Fire, Evile, Breakdance Kickboxer, Departures, Bedtime For Toys, Undergang, Luggage, TAEA, Demented Are Go!, Deadbolt, VAS, League of Space Pirates, VCR, Las Feas, Pity Party, Hell Bear, the Goonies, Thy Art Is Murder, Black Dahlia Murder, Sharkopath, Night Idea, Peoples Blues of Richmond, Get In The Car, Sea of Storms, Insanity Alert, Buzzard Dust, Petrichor, Mutant Scum, Jon E. Cab, Neat Sweep, Crab Action, Insanity Alert, Weedeater,
SKATEBOARDING
Thrasher Magazine, Carhartt, Creature Skateboards, Shipyard Skates, Lovenskate, Demon Seed, Freedom Fighter, Pink Crack, Wizard Skull, Kingpin Magazine, Old Man Army, Ready Amongst Willing, Black Cross, Raindog, Wolfpack, Creep Show, Tommy K Contest, Culpeper Skateshop, Chum Media
CLOTHING
OBEY, Mishka, Disturbia, Rook Brand, Mad Decent, Social Studies, Durkl, Beautiful/Decay, Restless Bodies, Politricks, Dirty Empire, Culture Shock, Hospitality, Toxico
BIKES
Books On Wheels, Carytown Bicycle Co., FBM Bike Co., Bunnyhop Bike Shop, Blue Ridge Extreme, NACCC, RVA Bike Polo, Slaughterama, Pizza Crawl, Spirit Couriers, Snow Cone Championships, Wildebeest Sprints, VA Mountain Bike Series
Beer
Hardywood Brewery, Strangeways Brewing, Beer Richbrau, 3 Floyds Brewing, Well Traveled Beer, The Answer
Everybody Else
Draft House Films, Acclaim Magazine, Iron Cauldron Books, Blanchard's Coffee, Best Friends Day, Team Eight, the Fest, the Black Sheep, Daybyday, Velocity Comics, Virginia Comicon, Boca Fiesta, Front Magazine, RVA Magazine, Richmond Magazine, the Richmond Guide, Brick Weekly, Punchline, Jess3, the Taint, Kulture, Vinyl Conflict, Hell’s Satans, Chop Suey Books, Moped Army, Strange Kids Club Magazine, Swords and Leather Radio, Movie Loft, AKM Glassworks, Grow Interactive, Graveside Leather Works, Big Secret, Juggernaut Gym Clothing, Parkour Generations, Video Fan, Tiny Lion, Geico, GoGo Vegan Go Food Truck, Meathook, Engine and Frame, Dear Hearts, Comic Cons Podcast, AP Math, Infirmity, Sticky Rice, The House of Life, King of the James, Salvation Tatoo
BORN UGLY
Born Ugly was a full color skateboard magazine, founded and operated from 2009 through 2011 by James "Barf" Callahan (as art director) and Mickael Broth (as editor). With a nonexistent budget and the volunteered work of many talented friends, ten issues were produced in just under two years, which immediately gained a dedicated readership with a distribution around the globe. All issues are archived at issuu.com.
