We recently had the chance to connect with Steven Shackelford and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Steven, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
My bestowed mandate by God himself to become a legendary, renowned artist by sharing my gift of creativity to the world at large. I couldn’t even fathom such a timeline if I somehow “stopped” doing this–I literally wouldn’t know what’s else to do.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Steven Christopher Shackelford, creator and founder of SKETCHKINGS INC., a production company that specializes in making vivid, original content through the ideas of myself and fellow co-founder, David Shackelford. Our first major endeavor is working to greenlight our full-length animated project IP, entitled “Mammal Force™”.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Discovering my gift at a very young age, being able to conjure certain things that most kids couldn’t at that time. Attending advanced art classes, winning competitions and gaining that early reputation of budding into a skilled illustrator/creator always emboldened me to keep pushing myself over the years.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
2004, I remember it well. I was at a certain place mentally where I foolishly believed I had done everything that was required to have a “quick” success at 19. I was very impulsive and impatient with my ambitions, so I eventually started to get in my own way. One night, I was so frustrated I literally destroyed my PC and deleted everything SKETCHKINGS from it–my drafts, sketches. concepts, everything. That probably lasted for 24 hours because I immediately regretted doing something so unbelievably stupid. Since then, I made a personal vow to never crash out like that ever again.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That it can be the world’s parent. This past decade, the entertainment has completely strayed from what it actually does–“entertain”. It should go without saying that your average, decent, critically thinking human being believes in the values of equality, inclusion and diversity. But having those values browbeaten into every facet of Hollywood media has garnered this industry a warped sense of self-righteousness which has turned most of the general audiences away and has also diluted it’s quality.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I was one of the greatest creative minds that ever lived. And a good man.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/stevencshackelford
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevencshackelford/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-christopher-shackelford-61b81968
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/aCML2
Image Credits
Photos by Steven Christopher Shackelford.
