Today we’d like to introduce you to David Shackelford.
Hi David, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Well for starters, I grew up in Fort Worth, TX. Born in August of 77. A Leo, in the spiritual world. A kid who loved toys, cartoons, comics, anime, and video games. Back then, kids were spoiled for content. There were plenty of franchises to choose from. But unlike most kids, it wasn’t cool for me to be into geek culture. Pop culture. Not where I was from. When I was teenager, then eventually a young adult, I had to hide that part of myself. So that I wouldn’t get shamed, ridiculed, or beat up, for being me. A creative. A Black one, at that. Back then, finding a black creative, was like finding a unicorn. In my neighborhood, you had to be, one of the following: a street pharmacist, a gang member, or an athlete. Unfortunately, not too much has changed, since then.
As far as my start, that lead me down the path I’m on now, would have to be, when I was 19 yrs old. A work buddy of mine wanted me to help him pitch an idea, for a new company mascot. We worked for a local utility company in Fort Worth, TX. At the time, the company didn’t have a mascot. (During which time, the company was in stiff competition, with a rival utility company. Who had a mascot. This was just before, deregulation took over the power industry.) He explained to me what the pitch was, and told me he needed a few conceptual sketches, for an upcoming meeting. So as a friend, I told him I’ll do it. Give me a week and a half, and I’ll give you 5-7 sketches. Five days later, I gave him 6 sketches, for the pitch meeting. He loved the artwork, and was excited for the meeting. He told me, if the meeting went well, they would pay him $20K, for the mascot. He said he would split the profits with me, 50/50. Giving me a very nice payday. We shook hands, on the agreement. A couple of weeks go by. Didn’t hear anything from him. Then finally one day, he got back to me and told me what happened. He said the execs ultimately decided not to move foward, with a mascot. But, they liked the artwork, and had they voted in favor of a mascot, they would’ve definitely moved foward with our pitch. When I heard that, I was elated. It became a point of pride, for me. Think about it, I’m a kid from the hood, and my work was good enough to be considered, on a corporate level. From that moment on, my world was forever changed. That experience left a lasting impression on me.
In my early 20s, the call to becoming an artist/storyteller, was at its loudest. So I continued my creative journey. In 2000, I began writing my own original stories. I’d find myself waking up at 2-3AM. Writing in the living room, in the dark. So that I wouldn’t wake up my spouse, at the time. Ideas would hit me at odd hours, within the course of a day. They still do.
At present, my cousin and I co-found, our company, SKETCHKINGS INC. We’ve been working diligently towards brokering a potential production deal, with our first CG animated adventure, Mammal Force.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road I’ve traveled, was a rough one. Is, a rough one. A road less traveled. Along the way, I’ve had to make some hard choices, and a lot of sacrifices. Misfortunes and disappointments. Multiple pivots and detours. Steven alluded to this in the first interview with you guys, but having to move back to Dallas, and start from ground zero, was a tough pill to swallow.
Over the course of 13 years, Steven I have dealt with some the worst kind of people, you can imagine. Fraudulent people, scammers, confidence men and women. People trying to steal your work, and original concepts, etc. Shyters overall. On top of: Failed relationships. Love, family, and friendships. To put it mildly, I have a wealth of source material, to reference from. From a creative and storytelling perspective. Just based on real life, and personal experiences.
Most people in our situation, would’ve given up. Retreated to the life they’ve always known. Where it’s safer, and nothing is expected of you. Your life can go back to normal. You can basically tuck your dreams away, to the furthest resets of your mind, and never return to them. That’s the price of striking out on your own. The price of entrepreneurship. We could’ve given up. We should’ve given up. But we didn’t. We’re Shackelfords. We basically told ourselves, at our lowest, if we could do it, once, we can do it, again. So that’s what we did.
With the time and resources Steven and I’ve been blessed with, we’ve successfully rebranded and rebuilt our company. With more Intellectual Properties and Content. Needless to say, I have a lot to be grateful for. I’m extremely thankful. God gave me the mental fortitude and the strength, to power through and preserve. Despite all obstacles, thrown our way, He gave me the wisdom to remain true to myself, and to exercise patience, and maintain positivity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Well, to give you a brief description, I’m a self taught artist/illustrator, and storyteller. I’ve been writing, sketching and drawing, for 43+ yrs. Since Age 4. Specifically, my area of expertise being, comic inspired artwork.
I’m most proud of the characters, worlds, and universes, Steven and I have created, over the years.
As far as what I think sets me apart from others? Well I’ve been told my artwork, is ethereal. Blending the elements of fantasy and realism. I like to get a reaction from people, regarding my art. I like the idea capturing a candid moment. A character implying movement, in a pose. Based on an emotion, or a feeling, the character may be experiencing. Or simply a moment in time, and someone asking the question: What if this were real?
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Having a positive mindset, protecting my inner child, and maintaining overall wellness. For me, its simple. I get to honor Jehovah God, my ancestry, and my family, through art, creativity and storytelling. For me, there’s no greater privilege.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/stevencshackelford
- Other: d.shack.1@hotmail.com
Image Credits
Photos by Steven Shackelford.
