The Artwork of Shea Justice

Forward:

Welcome to the first volume of The Artwork of Shea Justice. Over the years when I have had exhibits and participated in collaborations with poets and other artists, I have been asked to explain more about who I am as an artist and tell more about my motivations. I decided that a book of what I consider my best work could shed some light and answer some of those questions. It’s taken me over ten years to get my things together and even longer to make it into something. Luckily, I had the help in creating this book with two students at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.

I have been drawing since I have been in elementary school. Some of my earliest memories were of riding the school bus watching my next door neighbor Wendell Sullivan sketch comic boon superheroes for me then trying to mimic his style later. Every Saturday morning, I would get up early to watch Drawing from Nature with Captain Bob Cottle and try to learn how to sketch various forms of wildlife. I cannot remember a time in my life without drawing. Art has always been a part of me. It has kept me out of trouble in some instances, healed me at times, and helped my self esteem in ways too vast to describe here.

I have been influenced by so many artists over the years that it is often difficult to say who has inspired me the most. I also look for inspiration from a variety of media such as newspapers, comics, history books, and lousy television shows from the 70s. I think I am the only artist that can find true meaning in the works of Bearden and make a connection with James Garner's coat from the Rockford Files. In the comics medium, I would like to say Alex Ross and Greg Land for their realistic approaches to the figure. African American artists like Charles White and Dana Chandler inspire me with their approach to subject matter and their power to make statements both political and personal. Larry Johnson, who was an illustrator for the Boston Globe Sports Section years ago, had an inking techqunique that I have been trying to mimic for years. Other artists such as Hal Foster, Romare Bearden, and Alex Raymond have most recently been the artists I look to for ideas about tequnique and design.

My favorite subjects to draw are mainly historical. If I had not become an art teacher, I am sure I would have been teaching history. From reading Golden Legacy Black History comics as a child to watching Roots in the seventies, History has always played a part in my thinking and my work. I feel such a strong connection to many of these people and I am almost obligated to make their stories known. When I draw them, it's like I am bringing to light many stories that otherwise would be ignored. There is also a feeling of living through their experience while I work.

This book is a compilation of over ten years worth of art making that I have worked on for different projects and assignments given to me in school when I freelanced for various publications. Many of the illustrations are of African Americans whom I've 'discovered' through research and curiosity. Some of them have their names listed because of their importance to me and hopefully will motivate the reader to learn more about them on their own. Other illustrations in the sketchbook sections were done as assignments, came out of boredom, or to test out new pens I had purchased. The medium is mostly in pen and ink with a few pencils as well. In future volumes, I hope to show off work that reflects that mind of a pop culture junkie. If this book inspired someone to learn more about Black History, to take up drawing or to even hire me for a job freelancing, then it was well worth the effort. I hope you enjoy.