Scott King Art Show at James McCabe Theater Shows 'Heart and Soul' of Eclectic Artists

Scott King describes his “low-brow” style of art as “a cross between Dahli and Warhol,” along the lines of “comic book, sarcastic, surrealistic and pop.”

But it’s not just King’s art that was on display at his “Heart and Soul” art show at the James McCabe Theater in Valrico on Feb. 14.

On display also: Tom Mueller and Dick Patterson, with Warren Gibson, Holly Strickland, Carlton M.L. Jones and Ruth Soucek. 

“I started with art 36 years ago,” said the 40-year-old King. “Pens and pads and notepads preoccupied my time. I just spent time drawing, on road trips, after school, any free time I had, I drew.”

 Drawing appeals to him to this day, King said, “because it’s easy, it’ fast and it’s instant results.”

“You get to create your own world,” he added. “My imagination comes to life when I draw.”

King had his first show in 2006 and since then has had “six or seven” in the James McCabe Theater, home to the Village Players community theater troupe 

“I look for diversity in putting my shows together,” he said. “I look for a little bit of something for everybody.”

At the Valentine’s Day art show, for example, miniaturist Ruth Soucek displayed her award-winning art. Carlton M.L. Jones displayed his custom figures crafted out of fashion dolls, store bought and hand-designed from polymer clay.

Patterson, King said, “has been working in the design field for years and years.”

“He was an instructor of mine at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa and he taught me the importance of art,” King said. “That it’s everything. A good design is not only something that looks good but it also serves a purpose. It works. 

King said he was drawn to Tom Mueller’s painting of kittens. “That’s what drew my attention, because I love cats,” King said.

Strickland, King added, is a massage therapist “who does art work for the sense of smell and touch and feel,” as evidenced with her custom-designed soaps.

 “Warren (Gibson), I met him in Ybor City, at a huge art show, at Square One Productions at the Ritz,” King said. “His style is very similar to mine. We do the same style of work, paintings cut to shape. I use heavy plywood and he uses particle board.

 Overall, the intent of the Scott King art show is to bring exposure to other artists, he said.

Said King: “I’m trying to build an art scene in the local area that you typically would have to go to a big city to find.”