User:Bookerjames13

BIOGRAPHY

James O Booker A  self  taught  American  Painter  and  Graphic  Artist  was  born Sept.12,1952  in Harlem,  New York City. Raised in the small town of Bradenton,Florida by his Great Grandparents Mazie  &  Mack  Leggett  from  9 month old. At an early age he learned  to draw  by  copying   cartoons  from   comic  books his  grandparents bought  him as child.Encourage by  the Legendary  Diamond   Teeth  Mary Smith  Mcclain known as  the Queen of  Blues  was his mentor,  who  lived across  the  street  from  his  grandperants  home  Mary Smith  Mcclain was  the  sister  of  the Great Blues  Singer  Bessie Smith. Mary would  later  sing  in late  60's  at  his  Great Grandfather funnal at Carters Temple  C.m.e  Church  in Bradenton, Florida  she  was  a  close Freind  to   his grandparents and  would  often   tell  him  stories  of her life from  her photo  journal  she  would   alway  be happy  to show. Mary had   a  great  impact  on  his  plans  to become   an  Artist  and was a  major  factor  and influence  in  his  life.His  school  teachers would  take him on trips  to the John Ringling Musuem In Sarasota  Florida  there  he  saw  historial  paintings  and sculpture in person for the first time. By his 18th birthday his drawing skills  improved  by  practice. He opened a small  art studio on the side of his  grand  parents  home  with  a large sign in front and  began  making   money   by  painting  signs and   drawing   portraits,   his  portrait   drawings and   life  stories  where featured in Florida largest papers. In the mid 70's   he  moved  to  New  York  City to  improve   skills   by copying   and  studying   famous  paintings  in museums   around   new  york  city,  soon  afterward   the   would suffer two tragic losts  losing  sight in  his  left eye  and  death  of  great  grand  mother while  he was in  the  hospital, though  heart  broken  he  was  determined and  persevered. He lived briefly in  the state of California, once again studying  and copying paintings  of masters and later in his career classical  free standing sculpture. While  living  in  California   he  met   Antony  Perry  the   son of  Stepin  Fetchit   the first  black  movie  star,  Perry   referred  him  to  Sweet  Alice  Harris   The Founder  of  Parents of  Watts. His work  includes   portraits    of Michael    Jackson  who    was  an supporter of the Parents of Watts and it's programs,Commissioned  was portraits of former Sr. President  Bush, First Lady Barbara Bush which  they  joyfully  received at  their Landing of  The Presidential  Plane Air Force One in California at L.A.X. Many high profile portrait  commissions  where   made  though the  Watts Heatlh  Foundation  which have  a  permanant  art collection  of  his  art. his work also includes,    his   mentor   Diamond    Teeth Mary   Smith Mcclain ,California  State Sentator  Diana   Feinstein,     Joan Milke Flordes,  Congress  Women  Diane  Watson,  Former Governor  of   California Pete  Wilson, Portraits   the  Late   Mayor   Tom  Bradley,  Politician  Augusta F. Hawkins ,Former LA. County Supervisor Kenneth  Hahn, Film  Star  Billy Dee Williams,  South African  Zulu King Manosuthu Butheiezi,  Former   US. Ambassador to  Africa,  Harry  H.  Schwarz, New York City  Paine Webber Ceo. Brain Storms, Former  Brooklyn  President   Howard    Golden, Herbert  and   Sylvia  Woods   The  Queen of  Soul Food   and    host   of   private    portraits commissions.The Artist  is  currently  a member   of ,Harlem  Art   Alliance,   Harlem   Chamber  of Commerce,  Harlem Church of Christ, and is a boxer  at  the Church Street Boxing Gym  in lower Manhattan, New York, and is  a VFR Student Pilot, of Cessna 172 Skyhawk Aircraft.