Video Credit: Ben Franks
Now Featuring
Original Works by Gary Cooks
Welcome to Shonda's Art.
Thanks so much for coming by. All the world is my canvas.
Watch or help me create art live.
Discover where in the world is Shonda?
Check out my Dad's artistic debut,
Take a look behind the curtain to see what makes me tick.
Look behind the scenes of murals, series, experiences, digital work and more.
Video Credit: Ben Harris
48 x 60 inch acrylic painting on heavy duty canvas. Created as a community live painting in April 2025 for the Dallas Arts District Block Party. I added the reclining figure in April of 2026 to bring back the underlying sketch beneath all of the beautiful images, sketches and doodles from the community. I love how at peace he appears regardless of what is happening all around him.
12 x 24 inch acrylic on wood panel
Framed 5 x 7 inch oversized playing card with archival ink drawing. Queen of Clubs represents embracing intelligence, hard work and intuition.
Acrylic on canvas painting depicting Tina Turner mid-dance.
10 x 10 inch acrylic on bamboo plate. Accrued over many projects.
8 x 8 inch acrylic on bamboo plate. Accrued over many projects.
5 x 5 inch acrylic on heavy duty gallery wrapped canvas. Captures the essence of joy and laughter that my biological grandmother embodied.
24 x 36 inch heavy duty gallery wrapped canvas with acrylic and mixed media. Created live during Literature and Arts Festival at Cedar Valley College with community collaboration from students, guests and staff. $2600
8 x 8 inch acrylic on bamboo plate. Depicts grandmother in beauty school doing finger waves. Legend has it my granny woke in the middle of the night from a dream that showed her how to create the hairstyle and instantly tried it on one of her sisters. The rest is history. This image references official photos taken at beauty school. $800