Residing in San Marcos, Texas, James Harvard is a long time video game fan and artist who creates custom, airbrushed video game consoles and accessories. He sells and distributes them through his Etsy store Air Effex.
Harvard’s favorite products he currently sells include his Zelda and Overwatch-inspired controllers. When his schedule allows it, he likes to make new, challenging designs for his products. His personal favorite Zelda-inspired item is his custom painted Majora’s Mask Nintendo 64 console complete with an expansion door removal and a white LED install. His interest for custom consoles peaked in 2007 when listings for custom painted gaming items began growing in popularity.
“I enjoyed selling them because it was a neat idea to think that art I created could also be functional for daily use, rather than just hanging on a wall or sitting on a shelf. I now sell all over the world and its a gratifying feeling to know that somewhere across the world, someone is enjoy something I created everyday while gaming.”
Harvard’s custom Majora’s Mask Nintendo 64.
When working on a new project, such as a console, device, etc., Harvard starts with buying a duplicate item so he understands the internal mechanics of the system, such as how to separate the pieces and what to paint. Once everything is sanded and sanitized, he airbrushes the system or controller. When painting graphics onto his devices, he creates and edits the graphic through his computer, then builds a stencil of it. Once the painting process is finished, he protects his products with an automotive grade clear coat to avoid damage from daily use. He finalizes his device with clear coating, wet sanding, polishing, and buffing to construct a shiny, high quality product.
Harvard’s Zelda-inspired custom Nintendo 64 console and controllers.
Harvard is always working on new projects, so make sure to keep an eye out on his store. You can find more details and updates through Air Effex’s Facebook page. Here are some last words, for our readers, from Harvard. “I always encourage people to try and create something they see online or have an idea for. I started out with a horrific skill set in airbrushing, but over time, you get better, I promise. The worst thing that can happen is you give it a shot and have some fun creating something you can call your own. If the result is an abomination, just call it an abstract piece – that’s the beauty of art, no one can technically correct you.”
What is your favorite custom console or device at Air Effex? Let us know in the comments below.
