Shaz Justice Interview:
Global Location:
URL:
http://www.lollipoplabs.com
Shop:
http://www.zazzle.com/shazjustice
Shannon Rene’ Justice (aka Shaz Justice) is a renowned gothic fantasy artist who has worked as a full time designer and illustrator since 2007. She produced her first children’s book entitled “The Lighter Side of Dark Book One: Enter The Yard” was published in 2009 and she is currently working on book two. She has contributed artwork to many top Hollywood event gift lounges including the 2009 American Music Awards, the 2010 Golden Globes, 2010 Oscars, 2010 MTV Movie Awards and 2010 Epsy Awards.
AP: What inspires your art?
SJ: I love the beauty in dark things—abandoned houses, old one room churches (my area is FILLED with them!) and foggy nights. Needless to say, Tim Burton is a huge inspiration of mine.
AP: What is the relationship between technique and content in your work?
SJ: There really isn’t one to be honest. I’m not one of those people who can sit back and think about what they would like to create and how they would like to create it. I wish I could, but my head doesn’t work that way! Most of my work has started off as a doodle created on college ruled notebook paper while watching TV! If it is something that I like, I will then go about finding the best technique to make it look its best.
AP: Describe your first experience of making art and how it affected your life’s journey.
SJ: I wish I could remember my first artistic experience! I have been drawing and creating for as long as I remember. My family always tells me that I was born with a pencil in my hand.
AP: Describe your most recent experience of making art.
SJ: I have been CRAZY busy lately! A couple of months ago I had my artwork given to the celebrities at the American Music Awards in their gift bags. I just wrapped up my first set of signed and numbered mini prints for the Mo’nique Show on BET to be given to her celebrity guests in the gift bags, as well as another set of prints that will be going to the Golden Globes for their gift bags. I have been gift bag crazy! I’m set to do at least 4 more months worth of prints for the Mo’nique Show and then I will be getting ready for my biggest venue EVER in March—The Oscars.
AP: Take us on a guided tour through a day in your life as an artist.
SJ: Eh, it isn’t as exciting as other artists, I’m sure! I wake up, get my kids off to school, take my three dogs out, sit at the computer with my to do list, and get creating! I scan images that I doodled the night before, or clean up whatever images are lurking in my computer that I hadn’t gotten to yet, try to finish them up without getting interrupted a few hundred times by my dogs, then I go a’posting on various art sites. After that, I promote on Face book (www.facebook.com/shannonrenejustice) and my blog (lollipoplabsstudios.blogspot.com/) and then, start all over again. If I’m lucky, I might remember to eat or sleep!
AP: Thank you for taking the time to share with us the insight into your world.
