Sculpture of Stephen King's "IT"

“Age is a matter of feeling, not years.” – Washington Irving

That quote by one of William C. Cope’s literary heroes took on a special meaning for him one year ago. It came to mind as he was receiving medicine intravenously in the chemotherapy treatment area of Tennessee Oncology. In October of 2013 Cope was diagnosed with cancer. His treatments required him to sit for hours while medicine was pumped into his left arm, leaving his right hand free to pick up a pencil and begin to draw again for the first time in years.

Cope had realized as a young adult that he could make money selling his drawings of people to people, but that realization soon became the only driving force of his art. After years of being paid to draw portraits, he realized he had lost his artistic heart along the way.

“The Shawshank Redemption”

“That’s when I began to see my art as work instead of fun,” he explains. He put down his pencil and didn’t draw more than an occasional doodle for many years.

However, he still found himself surrounded by artistic things. He would occasionally tutor someone who needed help with their art class. He also sculpted, read, traveled, and did some photography while focusing on his career in Correctional Management.

“Correctional facilities all over the United States are full of talented people who have made bad mistakes,” says Cope. “Some of the most creative artists I have ever met were inmates.”

Chucky doll from “Child’s Play”

While working his way up in the ranks of the county facilities and the state’s prison system, he always encouraged those talented people he encountered to continue their passion of art.

“When I was placed in the position of Assistant Director of the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center, I was able to implement a creative arts class for the offenders housed there. It gave participating inmates an outlet for their creativity and many times eased tensions that may have been taken out in less productive ways.” Cope adds that enrollment was based on a zero tolerance policy with one disciplinary action potentially resulting in expulsion.

Inspired by the psycho-horror flick, “Willard”

“From a management standpoint I was proud, because the class required no budget and cost taxpayers nothing. The wonderfully talented artist Ann Carothers volunteers her time to teach the class and it is securely supervised by Sergeant Ray Angus. The supplies are donated from local companies and volunteers,” he said.

Cope is also proud to announce that artwork from the program has been exhibited at several recent community events. He hopes to host a full art show of the work some time in 2015.

But after inspiring so much creativity in the lives of others, his own drawing was still taking a back seat—until he found himself in chemotherapy.

Drawing inspired by “The Walking Dead”

“It was October and I was thinking about a recent trip that my wife Shannon and I had taken to Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., where we visited Washington Irving’s grave. As I sat there with that tube in my arm, I needed to feel as young as I could make myself. So, I sketched a scene from Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow to make myself feel younger, and it worked,” Cope said. At that moment, Cope vowed to God that he would never give up on his artistic talents again. So he hasn’t, and it has resulted in many great things for him.

“One of my sculptures,” Cope explained, “is currently displayed in Stephen King’s personal office in Bangor, Maine”—a special treat for the artist, whose mother was an avid Stephen King reader. He is producing illustrations for a Civil War novel by author Ed Alexander and co-author Wayne Wilson, a book collaboration with publisher Joe Mynhardt of Crystal Lake Publishing. He is also working with his brother, Joshua Cope, providing illustrations for a collection of scary short stories and poetry for young readers. His illustrations have even been inducted into the United States Army archives.

PinHead from “Hellraiser”

Horror, fantasy and science fiction have been lifelong loves for Cope and have obviously influenced his subject matter, as have early artistic influences like Frank Frazetta and James Flora. His earliest drawings included everything from pictures he saw in Sunday school to dinosaurs and monsters he read about in cryptozoology books.

In his most recent work you will recognize many of your favorite characters and scenes from a variety of horror movies.

Many of these pieces will be on display at JoZoara Coffee Shop and Two-Tone Art Gallery throughout the month of October. As you’re viewing his work in person this month, remember that those images you’re having the pleasure of viewing wouldn’t exist had Cope not been able reignite his passion and take refuge in his art during the toughest times. Whatever your passions and talents are, take a cue from him and follow them always, even—perhaps especially—in your darkest moments.