DALLAS, TX, December 21, 2023 - Steven Christopher Shackelford has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Early on in his childhood, Mr. Shackelford displayed an innate creativity and an exceptional talent for art and drawing. From being introduced to the world of art by his grandmother to receiving encouragement from his parents, he was motivated to hone his artistic skill set as he grew older, which led him to participate in school art competitions and earn recognition from local art organizations. As he refined his artistic craft further, his parents encouraged him to turn his talent into a professional career and create his own destiny by building his own business.

Such support inspired Mr. Shackelford to establish Sketchkings Inc. in 1998 along with his business partner and cousin, David Shackelford. After launching his multimedia production company and graduating from Frisco High School, he interned for Klasky Csupo and soon after attended The Art Institute of Dallas, where he completed coursework in line with a Bachelor of Arts in animation, interactive technology, and video graphics and special effects. Following Mr. Shackelford's time there, he completed coursework in fashion design and marketing at American InterContinental University.

While simultaneously pursuing his formal education and creating vivid, original storytelling projects through his business, Mr. Shackelford served as the creative director and treasurer of Zu Crew Nation LLC as well as the creative director for Zeal Entertainment from 2005 to 2010. During his time at Zeal Entertainment, he played a part in the company's receipt of both the 2010 Hip-Hop Artist of the Year Nominee at the 21st Annual Los Angeles Music Awards and the Best Album Award for the 2010 Urban Kings Best of the Best II Awards. In line with his own artistic ventures over the course of his career, Mr. Shackelford's story and artistry have been highlighted and featured in local interviews in Dallas, and he has received other recognitions, such as the Visual Art Scholastic Event Award from the Texas Art Education Association in 2003.

In 2011, while residing in Los Angeles, Mr. Shackelford was introduced to Paul Levine, a renowned literary agent associated with Jack Kirby, a prominent comic book innovator celebrated for his work with the Marvel franchise. Through that meeting, in which he noticed the striking resemblance between his own work and that of Kirby, he came to the realization that he was a true artist and must pursue his calling. From that moment onward, he has remained committed to seeing his artistic vision through.

Throughout the course of his life and his artistic career, Mr. Shackelford has been driven by his unshakable faith in God and the deep love he holds for his family. Even in the face of adversity and setbacks, he has found solace in his art as a constant source of inspiration and motivation. Moreover, he is grateful for the unwavering support and guidance he has received from his cousin and business partner of 25 years.

While acting as the current assistant manager at Canon, Mr. Shackelford has plans to pursue high artistic and career goals over the next five years. Currently, he is working toward creating an animated project that will bring back the excitement of family entertainment, be widely distributed across the globe, and change the course of animated cinema. In working toward this goal, he has focused his artistic efforts on animation, scriptwriting, and developing presentations, thus transforming his already successful business into a full-fledged production company.

In fulfilling working toward the completion of his artistic vision, Mr. Shackelford aims to not only revolutionize the industry but also influence culture and society as a whole. As a result of his hard work and dedication to hone his artistic skill, he is now in a place to confidently network with renowned individuals in the industry in an effort to partner on his project and make his dreams a reality. In line with his artistic endeavors, Mr. Shackelford's life goal is to live a life of purpose and fulfillment, dedicate his time to nurturing the relationships with his family and usher in a new era of prosperity and success for his loved ones.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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