Meet Artist James Shockley

Art and Photo © James Shockley

It is a gift to witness love…

one day, a long ago I was surfing the flickr and I came across one photo, I can’t tell you that I remember what was in the photo, but I remember reading the first comment that the photo received…as it was a Love Note, a love note so moving, open, passionate and touching in the way I would have never imagined !

Their love story has touched many, and I’m not an exception.

What few years ago were strangers…are friends today.

And their love ? It has grown into a beautiful little boy… and is still growing.

I was always curious how they met, what started that first conversation, that special sparkle, you know.

The answer is actually really simple, I learned this months and months later…it was the first portrait that James drew of his soulmate and muse Kitteh.

His art brought them together, her encouragement made him a stronger artist.

Today I’d like you to meet an artist James Shockley.

Portraits like these make for exceptional gifts.
~Let the James to make that special portrait for you~

1. I wonder, how did it happen for you, did you just took a pencil one day and started drawing?

James: ” When I was very little and Its a faint memory but I remember my mom giving me pictures to draw. She would give me a blank sheet of paper and a crayon or pencil and would have me copy the picture. She would tell me to copy the picture. I remember doing it a lot. They were like cartoon pictures.”

Art and Photo © James Shockley

2. What medium(s) do you work with ?

James: “I mainly work with graphite, My second would be colored pencil ( Prismacolor).”

Art and Photo © James Shockley

3. In the world of digital art, I find it so refreshing to find art that is done by hand, have you tried your hand in digital artwork, if so how would you compare two?
James: “Yes it seems that everything today is digital. I have played around with some art in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements and I will say it is fun and rewarding but i would never trade my right hand in on an education in it. To take a piece of paper and later see a creation later from my own hand (if it comes out the right..LOL) gives me a great feeling of accomplishment that i would have never gotten from a computer. Art is a deep expression that comes from with in, may it be from a pencil or keyboard. I myself do not see much of a difference but to really compare I would say that the paper feels more real. The end result is more real and I know that I did it verses me telling the computer to do it.”

Art and Photo © James Shockley

4. What was your inspiration behind the Calendar Portraits, they are all women, all Movie Legends, Hollywood Divas?

James: “The inspiration came from an old drawing I did of Ava Gardner. My Soulmate Kitteh and I were talking about that drawing one night and I felt inspired to redo the drawing. At that point Kitteh asked if i would do a drawing of Marilyn Monroe Instead and I did. From there the Diva set was born. I did make sure that Ava ended up in the set somewhere. Kitteh had a big big role in the layout of the set and she was the one that mainly picked the portraits to be done. She knew more about classic Hollywood stars then I and she led the way as far as who would be in that set. Hats of to you My love Kitteh.”

Art and Photo © James Shockley

5. Even artist has to eat, what is your favorite dessert?

James: Cheesecake with Strawberries.

6. I’m just curious, how long does it take to draw a piece like this?

James: “Anywhere from 8 to 10 hours, I have never finished a piece in one sitting.”

7. When drawing a portrait, do you prefer for your surroundings to be quiet or do you listen to music, if so what type of music do you prefer to listen when you are working on a portrait?

James: “I prefer Music. Music gives me a lot of flow and helps relax me and it does not matter what the Music is. I like anything from Ray Charles to Iron Maiden. I love music and I find it goes hand in hand with my work. Sometimes it gives me ideas on new drawings.”

8. What type of pencils(please correct me if the term is not correct) do you use?

James: “Graphite Pencils which are scaled from h to b, b being to darkest and softest. I mainly use b to b9 with a paper stub , tissue paper and a stick eraser.”

9. Do you snack while drawing?

James: “LOL… I am to afraid to =)”

10. The most precious memory?

James: “That is easy, When I met Kitteh. Around this time I had been doing portraits for a set called beautiful women and I happened to be in her flickr photostream. I remember this and will never forget when I saw Her for the first time. It was like something hit me, Hard to explain. Anyway I saw her portrait and had to do a drawing of her, Now normally i would wait to write the person and ask if I may be able to do a drawing but I could not and wrote her right after I saw the photo.”