October l0, l997
With Eleanor Mondale
MALE ANNOUNCER: William Shockley stars in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as the moody saloon keeper with the long locks. In this Entertainment report Eleanor Mondale uncovers the artistic side of Mr. Shockley.
WILLIAM:(Walking toward a canvas) I might just have an inspiration to start mixing colors in one corner. I don't know what I'm doing, truthfully, when I start....
ELEANOR VOICEOVER: It's a world apart from the dusty set of Dr. Quinn where William Shockley presides as the temperamental tavern owner. When I met him in an LA loft I discovered this scene-stealing actor is at heart a gentle-souled artist.
ELEANOR: When people meet you do they mistake you for you character Hank?
Do they think you're automatically going to be kind of....
WILLIAM: Gruff?
ELEANOR: Volatile
WILLIAM: A bit volatile? A bit strung out? Yeah, they do So I take that as a compliment, I suppose, 'cause I guess I'm doing my job.
ELEANOR: Is there a ritual when you get ready to paint or does it just hit you?
WILLIAM: No. I lay out all my paints and I just put a canvas on the floor, and I use my fingers...But it really hurts after awhile. Your hands arejust like bloody almost. For real.
ELEANOR: Really?
WILLIAM: Yeah. So it's kind of--
ELEANOR: So it's a little pain with your passion?
WILLIAM: A little pain with my passion.
ELEANOR: (Voiceover) Shockley says he's never attended an art class. For him painting comes as naturally as breathing.
WILLIAM: (Pointing to a painting that looks something like a collage): This is kind of representative of our world that we live in. It's a bit chaotic. It's a bit out of control. Very jumbled.
ELEANOR: These sketches are part of a book William is writing and illustrating by hand. (NOTE: A children's book)
WILLIAM: And it's about a little boy who loves gardening. And he, along with his little particular unknown seed, grow up to save the world.. ELEANOR: Is there anything in here that you could read for us?
WILLIAM: Eleanor--"We're all like a seed that's found in the ground
In the dark, in the cold, or the rain. Yet fear not the darkness, the heat or the spareness of air that seems not to remain..."
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