James Cocke, formerly of Andalusia and is now living in Valdosta, Georgia, is an artist who is visually impaired with end-stage glaucoma. He took up painting in later years of his life.
Cocke painted this painting of an old cowboy on an animal, and it was the picture that won
The award was presented to him in his participation in a Georgia Artists with Disabilities contest. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Cocke 71 has was unable to see his left eye completely after complications from a procedure and has been fighting the end-stage glaucoma that has affected the left side of his eye. In spite of that, and other health problems Cocke began painting as a pastime and hasn’t looked back on his new-found passion since.
“I needed to quit earlier due to glaucoma that was in its final stages and was confined to the home. My eye went out as a result of an error in operation, and my other eye was becoming worse. I saw 10 different doctors and one of them referred me to the Jacksonville Jaguars team eye doctor located to St. Augustine, Florida. I am grateful to him for the vision I could see. After returning home, I listened the radio and watched television whenever I could. My wife was asking me what I wanted to get for Father’s Day a year ago and I suggested to buy brushes and paint to paint,” Cocke said.
Cocke said that he can see abstract images on the walls every morning, when he gets up regardless of whether he has his eyes closed or open. The left eye is where he is able to see the images from.
“I wanted to re-create those images, despite the fact that they’re all in black and white every morning. They’re not exactly the same, but they’re very similar which is why I decided to paint them that didn’t require any time. I was able to finish it quickly and was in the love of painting that I was determined to continue. I’ve been a painting fool and have a lot of paintings and pictures. I was an artist who learned by myself and then immediately contacted another blind person who advised me of a contest titled Georgia Artists with Disabilities.”
He contacted participants of the competition on the final day of the contest and sent three artworks.
“I was awarded an award in the shortest time for my drawing titled “Cowboys,” after watching an old Western on TV. I paused the show and took a photo, and all I could see was hats dangling in the woods. I sketched what I could see and this was my first painting that has won an award. I also won another award in a different contest that I participated in and was awarded the cash equivalent of a small amount,” he said.
Prior to his newfound passion in painting Cocke spent 25 years working as an salesperson for air conditioning. He was laid off due to loss of his vision.
“Hot weather makes a successful salesman from someone. When it’s cool and pleasant there’s no one interested. Before I started selling air conditioners, I worked working in the snack and cookie food business for 15 years, and I had a few odd jobs prior to that. I was also the Head Coach for Special Olympics for seven years and also coached Little League ball for 20 years or more. I’ve always been active in sport and fishing for a long time. I taught my kids how to hunt, but stopped because I didn’t have the desire to kill deer.”
Cocke was born in Andalusia and stayed there until he reached the age of four old. He eventually returned to Andalusia at the age of 14-15.
“When I relocated from Andalusia to visit for the second time in my life, I began playing tennis and participated in state doubles competitions of 10+ tennis championships. My neighbors in the next block comprised Earl as well as Sam Johnson. I re-located to a neighborhood known as Green Acres. Three guys lived from my neighborhood who took me to tennis court and showed me to use tennis. I was enthralled by tennis and have continued to play ever since. I played football in high school my final year.”
His father Marcus Wayne Cocke Sr. died in 1956 in Andalusia His mom Nellie Edith Lotz Cocke emigrated into Waycross, Georgia, to be with her parents.
“My grandparents raised me since the mother of my parents worked as a Army surgeon during World War II. After my dad passed away and left my brother and me behind, it was more than she could handle, and she suffered the feeling of having a panic attack. She ended up in the VA mental hospital and stayed in the hospital and then out, until around twenty years old. Our brother had the attorney in charge however, an ER doctor from North Carolina called me to inform me that our mother wasn’t getting better or worse and asked me to come to her. He contacted me Wayne and I did not respond. I called my brother and we travelled into North Carolina to get her. Because my brother didn’t wish to care for her My wife and I cared for her until her passing in 2015, aged 91. My wife deserves the award for her efforts in being patient with her and they didn’t like each other.”
He also appeared on the radio show “Voices That Inspire” based in Tallahassee, Florida. Cocke has written four books titled “Papa’s Dream,”” “Cocke Tales, Memoirs from a Redneck Hippie,” “Margaret B. Lang: Jewel of Jacksonville,” and “Wait A Minute Vine,” together with Dave Griffin. Dave Griffin.
“It was a brief two-minute interview However, I wanted to make sure that everyone who is older and retirees to not delay. If you’re planning undertake something you should you should do it. The Lord will not give you another day, and I’ve been painting fervently. I’ve written about everything, and whenever it occurred to me and I was inspired to write it down, I did it down. If I come across something that I like, I sketch it out and then take an image of it. It is difficult to see the words I draw since everything is dim. I also use an enormous charcoal marker. I outline things and then try to draw inside it in the style of a coloring book.” Cocke said.
When he rang to the City of Andalusia to speak to Mayor Earl Johnson, he was asked how long since they had last spoken and replied that it was 68 years.
“When I returned for the third time around, I did not see him. He was his brother. Sam was there and we made an old friendship. He was a ball player in the team at Southern Miss and later became the CEO of a large firm and had a great success. We’ve formed an old friendship over the years.”
He is married for 50 years and 49 months, Diane Cocke, and they have three sons who are grown: James Lucas “Luke” Cocke 44 as well as twins John Paul Cocke and Jacob Linton Cocke 40. They also are grandparents of five grandchildren.
For more details, visit James Cocke Art on Facebook.
The article The post Former Andalusia resident finds joy in painting despite having end-stage glaucoma appeared in The Andalusia Star-News.
