James Cox (Personwhodrawsstuff) Interview | Respect the Dreamer
I am a Staten Island–based visual artist and musician. I create paintings, drawings, and comics. My band is Never Really Knew.
What inspired you to pursue your dream, and how did it all begin?
I have always loved drawing. My love for art began with watching cartoons and drawing the characters I saw. As I got older I’d enter into art programs because it was something I was good at and enjoyed doing. When I started thinking about college I knew I wanted to pursue a higher level of art education and dedicate it to furthering my craft.
Can you share a defining moment in your journey that shaped your perspective and fueled your passion?
I have a memory of making an original Spider-Man comic as a kid. I wrote my own story and based it off of Ultimate Spider-Man specifically. I was so proud of each page I stapled them together immediately each time I finished one. So instead of waiting until the book was complete, I ended up with this clump of papers with like 100 staples in it. There was a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment I can still feel today when I finish an art piece. Nothing tops the Spider-Man comic though.
How do you handle setbacks and keep pushing forward in the pursuit of your dreams?
I’d say for me, setbacks have been mostly rejections from shows, publishers, and maybe a piece I posted online not getting a lot of attention. The way I deal with it is knowing that doesn’t really have anything to do with me. The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel was on the radio for a year or maybe even more before it became a hit. It took someone hearing it and putting drums and electric guitar under it for it to become a big song. I still haven’t found my “audience” yet, but I know they are there.
Another form of setbacks I deal with is the usual procrastination and loss of inspiration/consistency. The way I deal with that is sort of like I tell myself hey just start even if you don’t feel like doing it — you told yourself that this is important to you and you need to take it seriously. It is hard to do that though.
Are there specific individuals who have inspired you along the journey?
Yes. So many. I’ll keep it current though. Right now I really love this painter Jeremy Miranda. He makes acrylic paintings of nature and everyday scenes like houses and neighborhoods that really capture feelings I'm also going for in my work. However his paintings focus on atmosphere and light, creating a dreamlike quality rather than photorealistic details. I’ve heard it categorized as “the night feeling.” Although I think it’s just nostalgia. But powerful nostalgia. Like when you’re out somewhere and you smell a perfume or cologne that sends you right back to your childhood — making you almost tear up kind of nostalgia.
How do you maintain a balance between pursuing your dreams and handling everyday responsibilities?
It’s really tough sometimes. I’m a teacher, so I rely on weekends, as well as breaks and holidays, to plan out bigger projects. However sometimes I just need that time for life things and honestly sometimes just rest. When I’m really all in on a project, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is — I’m going to work on it obsessively, which I have to be careful about as well. Burnout is real.
How do you overcome self-doubt and stay confident in your abilities?
I just remind myself that I’ve achieved good things before, and I’m confident in my tastes that if I like something I’m doing, other people will like it too. But I’m also in a place where I’m totally okay with something I’ve done not connecting with people. I’ve seen great art be ignored and stuff I don’t get personally reach the highest levels of praise and attention. I just want to stay true to the original vision I had all those years ago when I felt a deep connection to the cartoons I was watching and comics I was reading. That love later transferred to paintings and charcoal drawings, but that love and adoration was coming from the same place.
Can you share a memorable success story or achievement that resulted from your determination?
During Covid I felt very compelled to create an art piece dedicated to people working during the pandemic. I was living at home and going to grad school, being paid to stay home because my job actually closed during the pandemic. Right before, I was reading an RIP post from one of my friend’s moms who had just died of Covid. I was in the car with my dad picking up a pizza for the family. I almost broke down and cried.
I remember I just felt a lot of sorrow for humanity — honestly it was an overwhelming feeling, one I don’t remember having up until that point. I remember asking my dad, “What do you think are the most essential jobs right now?” and we discussed it. That night I began sketching a piece of like 10 different workers holding up the Verrazzano Bridge. At first they were holding up the ferry, which in retrospect is hilarious because it looked like people just picked up a boat out of the water to throw it or something.
I remember texting the mocked-up image to my friend who is usually super critical of everything, and even he was like, “Dude, I think this image is going to be famous.” And it did become famous. When I was done I put it on IG and a few hours later I was getting calls from NY1 asking me to come on the news to discuss it. I got comments and messages from hundreds of people I did not know at all saying the image touched their heart.
A lot of people wanted the image as a print. I knew that if I sold it, the money should go towards Covid-related charity. I partnered with the Borough President at the time, James Oddo, and Luke’s Copy Shop on Staten Island, and we made 250 limited prints and sold all of them, which raised over $20,000 for Staten Island Covid response efforts. It also brought my family together like never before. My parents were dropping off prints to people’s houses, making new friends and connections. It was a crazy time, but one I will always be very proud of.
In what ways do you stay motivated during challenging times?
I look at other people doing it and go, “If they can do it, so can you!” I also just really believe in my taste in art. I know that if I can achieve the vision I have in my head, it will connect with people on a deep level, which is the only level I’m interested in when it comes to art.
What dream are you living right now?
I’ve been involved in recent Staten Island festivals such as the Snug Harbor Fence Show and the Westerleigh Folk Festival, where I sold some limited edition prints of my newest paintings, as well as made a bunch of live portraits of people I did on the spot at my table. I always love to do that, I always meet so many cool people, and they are always so grateful and amazed when I can capture their portrait.
What advice would you give to someone with a dream?
I would say you should think about having a coherent vision before you put your time and effort behind a major project. In college I think I heard someone call it the “elevator pitch.” Have a short, succinct way to explain your idea — not just to other people but also to yourself.
When I taught high school, I taught an AP art class where the whole year was about building a body of work for a show. And I always encouraged the students to come up with a thematic road map before starting pieces. What will this look like in the end? What emotions are you conveying? What is the function (or lack of function) of your art? Create with intention.
That being said, I’d also encourage the same person to create for fun as well and to keep a healthy balance of their dream as well as keeping it light. It isn’t easy, but you need to be good to yourself. Also, find good people. Put yourself out there. Showing up matters. In-person human connection will always, 100% of the time, matter more than on-screen connection.
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