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www.shelbyinfo.com Our 41st Year • Issue No. 8 • February 22, 2024
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Young Shelby artist Jr. Thompson a big Sonic the Hedgehog fan by MICHAEL E. POWELL michael@cfmedia.info To say that seven-year-old Shelby artist Qadry Thompson, Jr. loves Sonic the Hedgehog, the superfast, blue spiky-haired cartoon hedgehog, immensely, is, at best, an understatement! Simply put – and according to his mom, Melissa Spikes – the popular (and VERY) speedy cartoon character is just about all her very talented son draws these days. “Jr.”, as he is known to his family, his fellow students, and his teacher, Mrs. Ykeiah Lawrence, at James Love Elementary, is one talented young man and has many, many sketchbooks filled with his art (mostly Sonic and his buddies, of course!) to prove it. “Jr.” is no “flash-in-the-pan” creator as he skillfully renders the blue, furry speedster and his cartoon buddies, “Knuckles,” and the two-tailed, yellow, flying fox character, “Tails” in the pages of said sketchbooks, and coloring them exactly as he sees them on his favorite cartoon show. “Jr.” was born and raised in Shelby, and has a brother and two sisters, said his mom, who
noted her son “…likes school overall and all his subjects,” but art and drawing is his main love. “From age two and going forward, he started liking Sonic the Hedgehog, which I introduced him to in order to keep him occupied and interested while I was working around the house,” said mom, Melissa, who dabbled in art herself. She also noted the character was one of her favorites as well when she was younger. She even has a tattoo of the character, based on one of her son’s drawings – on her wrist done by Gastonia tattoo artist Rashad Douglas. “When Jr. first saw Sonic, he loved him right off the bat,” she said. As for Jr’s. artistic abilities, Melissa said she feels he takes that after her side of the family a bit, but added, “What he sees in his mind, he can put on paper. If he sees it, he can do it. His artistic ability, I feel, isn’t stopping anytime soon!”, adding that he is “having fun” painting Sonic and his friends. Jr. said, as he pointed out some of his Sonic and company drawings in one of his many sketchbooks, “I enjoy drawing him (Sonic). It is lots of fun for
Seven-year-old Shelby artist, Qadry “Jr.” Thompson, proudly showing off his treasured collection of Sonic the Hedgehog items.
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me. I draw him all the time!” “Jr.” has done some paintings, which his mom proudly hangs on their living room and bedroom walls. She said her son’s paintings are done in acrylic paints and his drawing are in pencil or colored markers. Melissa, who is a retail banker in Qadry “Jr.” Thompson, 7, sits on his living room sofa, surrounded by some of Shelby, said her his “Sonic the Hedgehog” cartoon artwork, and holding a stuffed version of the son will play Sonic blue, spikey-haired speedster. the Hedgehog when playing with his friends, adding he also likes to play “army,” but his first love is drawing or painting Sonic characters. “He just loves all things Sonic,” she said. Melissa continued, “We have had many family members and friends requesting him to do a piece of art for them, and his art and skills are starting to really get out there. People are interested in his work; his art.” There are times Young Shelby artist, Qadry “Jr.” Thompson, with his mom, Melissa Spikes, he gets frustrated, showing off some of his amazing artwork of his favorite object of inspiration, she said, when he “Sonic the Hedgehog.” can’t get something that!” he’s trying to draw Melissa also noted right, but she said she tells him to not get frustrated; that it’s okay she wanted to say to not “get it right” all the time, “thank you” to her sisbut that it is important to keep on ter, Myisha as well as trying and doing better, and to Mr. Rashad Douglas for never give up, but to just “keep their support. Melissa noted if on going; to keep on trying.” Melissa said everyone in her someone would like to family is in awe of Jr.’s ability and commission Jr. to do talent, adding, “All of our church a piece of Sonic art The tattoo Melissa Spikes, Jr.’s mom, family at New Jerusalem Rebirth for them, she can be had done on her arm, based on one of Church are very supportive of reached at missmenot@ her son’s drawings, along with the drawhim and we are so thankful for icloud.com. ing from which it was taken.
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