I’ve been a fanboy of James Weinberg’s work for much longer than I’ve known.

Towards the end of 2011 we shared some wall space in an exhibition at Boston’s Fourth Wall Project where his prints displayed a command of color and line that immediately drew my attention. I wasn’t just impressed by the strength of his work, I was fully engaged by the subtle narratives he created in each piece.

After some internet lurking and further investigation, I discovered he was the author of a variety of art and design work I’d been admiring for years. His poster for Neptune at Great Scott had been one of my favorite posters in passing, and his design work for Raven Used Books graced one of my favorite totes.

After gassing him up with compliments, James agreed to answer a few questions about his art, his design, and the perils of riding a bike in Boston.

How long have you been making art in Boston? How did you end up here?

I have been at it about 10 years and I was in Colorado for while but grew up on the North Shore of Boston and I came back to take design classes at Mass Art.

Why did you decide on silkscreen as your medium of choice (assuming it is)?

The first thing that got me interested in art was silkscreen posters. I used to go to Providence all the time and were alot of people making amazing posters, art and zines using silkscreen. It is a good way to print my design work. Also unique textures and effects can be made through over-printing and the colors can be really rich. When I used to paint the colors where really muted and when I started printing the colors got way more punchy.

Your new work is much more focused on geometry and type, what inspired the change?

I am using a lot of the elements that are in my design work and now using it for art, so it is kind of a natural progression. When I make posters I like the type to be a big element in the design, A lot of the posters I make have this use of patterns that creates an optical vibrations by using blue and red or similar color interactions.

What has been your favorite both personal and professional projects to date?

Last winter I made a series of 40 postcards that I mailed directly to the venue one at a time. it was called “Going Postal” there was something really liberating about banging stuff out at the small scale and not over thinking and the prints got alittle distressed through the mail. A lot of that work was studies that I have been developing into the stuff I am doing now.

Professionally making silkscreen posters and bookcovers have been my favorite. I like seeing that kind of work in the public.

I know this has nothing to do with art, but you are an avid bicycle rider. Do you ride all year round?

Yes I do I have an a bike for all the seasons. In the winter I ride the beaters and hoopties. Boston is a drag for parking and getting around by car so I think biking is faster and keeps you moving and looking at stuff around you.

I’ve seen you ride through Kenmore Square with a three foot wide tupperware full of artwork. Have you ever had any close calls?

So far I have been hit by one car and have hit 2 cars. My motto is “That could have been alot worse”. When I transport art I take it real easy. One show in south boston I rode my bike right into the space with the framed art in the basket.

Who are your top three local artists and why?

I tend to like work that is really visual and illustrative. I have been seeing Raul Gonzalez’s work around and I like the lowbrow, often cartoony and expressive look of his drawings and the references to his cultural heritage. Kenji Nakayama’s sign paintings and stencils are really impressive. One of my teachers from Mass Art: Resa Blatman makes these mega paintings of animals and graphic swirls where everything seems to be humping.

Thanks again for doing this! Do you have any any advice for the kids out there?

Thanks for having me. I do have advice for the kids, first when you are drunk at a party do not spray a CO2 fire extinguisher when horsing around it will set off an alarm system that will contact firetrucks and the building will have to be evacuated. Also do not think you can cut safety glass like regular glass it will explode when you try to break it. Finally slow the fuck down, kids are too tech savy, motivated and confident; it is scary for older people.

You can see more of James’ work at weinbergdesign.com and check out his prints on Etsy.