Art-related Journeys: Writings, Books, and Exhibitions
NORTH CAROLINA
Writer, illustrator, researcher, 3-book Historical Fiction project, YA/general, 2018 – present
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Belin-Blank, University of Iowa, Midwest judge, 2012—2021.
IOWA
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, ‘Midwest Summer; Light and Warmth’ group exhibition,
Cedar Rapids, IA, 2015.
‘Modelspeak’, presentation, Marvin Cone Club, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, IA, 2015.
‘From Studio to House: How Illustrators Work with Publishers’, 5-person panel presentation,
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2015
‘Drawing on History’, solo exhibition, ‘Voice of Freedom: Story of Frederick Douglass,
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2015.
Chait Galleries, group exhibition, ‘Benjamin’s Buttons: Faces of Intensity’, Iowa City, IA, 2015.
Chait Galleries, group exhibition, ‘Small Works Show’, Iowa City, IA, 2013.
Presentation by artists Karen Hoyt and Jeni Reeves on Western Africa murals 2013.
‘Western Africa: Before the Boats’, Rainforest Murals, African American Museum of Iowa,
Cedar Rapids, IA, 2013.
Chait Galleries, group exhibition, ‘Small Works Show’, Iowa City, IA, 2012.
'Painted Pages' presentation, Phelps Auditorium, Waterloo Museum of Art, 2011.
‘Painted Pages: Children’s Book Iowa Illustrators’, 4-artist exhibition, Waterloo Museum of Art,
Phelps Pavilion, Waterloo, IA, 2010-11.
‘Picturing Washington’, presentation, CRMA, Grant Wood Studio, IA, 2011.
Children’s Book: George Washington and the Story of the Constitution, illustrator,
Millbrook Press, 2011.
Children’s Book: The Battle of the Alamo, illustrator, Millbrook Press, MN, 2011.
Gilded Pear Gallery, group exhibition, ‘Society of Children’s Book Show’, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2011.
Children’s Book: The Lion and the Hare, illustrator, Millbrook Press, MN, 2009.
Children’s Book: Anansi and the Box of Stories, illustrator, Millbrook Press, MN, 2008.
Research for John White project initiated, London, UK, 2008.
Illustrators Response to Picture Book Manuscripts w/Jeni Reeves and Jim Postier, Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI-Iowa) IA, 2007.
‘Once Upon a Painted Page’, 2 presentations, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, IA, 2007.
Children’s Book: Mike Fink, illustrator, Lerner Group, Millbrook Press, MN, 2007.
Preliminary research for John White project, London, UK, 2007.
Children’s Book: Passover, illustrator, Lerner Group, Millbrook Press, MN, 2006.
Children’s Book: Willie McLean & the Civil War Surrender, illustrator, Carolrhoda, MN, 2005.
‘Heroic Places in 2-D Spaces’, solo exhibition, Simpson College, Farnham Galleries, IA, 2005.
A commendation awarded for ‘Facing the Cradle’ by The African American Museum of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2005.
Designed Kenya set (with artist Karen Hoyt) for musical, Marion School, Marion IA, 2004.
Children’s Book: Ramadan, illustrator, Lerner, Carolrhoda Books, MN, 2004.
‘Facing the Cradle’, solo exhibition Kenya, The African American Museum of Iowa, IA, 2004.
Wiederspan Gallery, group exhibition, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2002.
Consignments, Wiederspan Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2002.
Coe College, group exhibition, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2002.
Children’s Book: Pocahontas, Illustrator, Lerner, Carolrhoda Books, MN, 2002.
Campbell-Steele Gallery, Colors of Russia, illustrations and book signing, Marion, 2002.
Children’s Book: Colors of Russia, illustrator, Lerner, Carolrhoda Books, MN, 2002.
Overhead/PowerPoint presenter, in affiliation with MacBook Words: for American Library Assoc., International Readers Assoc., COR/Grant Wood Initiative, Art Educators of Iowa, & tiered school presentations in the Midwest, South, & MidAtlantic venues. 2001-13.
‘Statements and Stories’, solo exhibition, Project Art, University of Iowa, IA, 2001.
Children’s Book: Voice of Freedom: Fredrick Douglass, illustrator, Lerner, Carolrhoda Books, MN, 2001.
Booker T. Washington original illustration, ‘Hidden Treasures’ exhibition from Zerzanek Children’s Book Illustration Collection, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, IA, 2001
Children’s Book: The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth, illustrator, Lerner, Carolrhoda Books, MN, 2000.
Children’s Book: Babe Didrikson Zaharias, illustrator, Lerner, Carolrhoda Books, MN, 2000.
Woman’s Made Gallery, group show, Chicago, Ill, 1999.
Commendation from African American Heritage Foundation, Cedar Rapids, 1999.
Campbell-Steele Gallery, Booker Washington illustrations and book signing, Marion, IA, 1998.
Woman’s Made Gallery, group show, Chicago, Ill, 1998.
Children’s Book: Colors of Kenya, illustrator, Lerner, Carolrhoda Books, MN, 1998.
Children’s Book: Booker T. Washington, illustrator, Carolrhoda Books, MN, 1998.
Woman’s Made Gallery, group show, Chicago, Ill, 1997.
Consignments, Kavanaugh Art Gallery, Des Moines, IA, 1996-7.
Representation: Carol Bancroft and Friends, Bethel, Conn, 1996.
UPSTATE NEW YORK & NEW YORK CITY
Research for new series of paintings, Ghosts and Listeners, New Mexico, 1994.
Summer spent in New Mexico travelling for research, 1994.
Representation: Jane Jordan Browne, writer/illustrator, Chicago, IL, 1994.
‘Placemarks: A Painter’s Passage’, solo exhibition, 1570 Gallery, Rochester, NY, 1994.
Carriage House Gallery, ‘Illustration Illustrated’, group exhibition, Sonnenberg Gardens,
Canandaigua, NY, 1994.
Chautauqua Art Association Galleries, group exhibition, Chautauqua, NY, 1993.
Carriage House Gallery, Figurative paintings, group exhibition, Sonnenberg Gardens, Canandaigua, NY, 1993.
Collaboration with UK author James Riordan, research/writing ‘The Songs My Paddle Sings’,
(author apology sent for not crediting my writing published for this project), 1995.
CNB&T bank, 2-person show, figurative paintings, Canandaigua, NY, 1992.
Chautauqua Art Association Galleries, group exhibition, Chautauqua, NY. 1992.
Carriage House Gallery, Landscape paintings, group exhibition, Sonnenberg Gardens, Canandaigua, NY 1992.
Arnot Art Museum, regional group exhibition, Elmira, NY, 1991.
Collaboration with UK author James Riordan as researcher/ illustrator for
‘The Magic Flute’ , children’s book project, unpublished, 1988-92.
‘The Planes in Africa’, solo exhibition, Jadite Galleries, midtown, NYC, 1991.
CNB&T bank, preview NYC Kenya show, Canandaigua, NY, 1991.
Chautauqua Art Association Galleries, group exhibition, Chautauqua, NY, 1990.
Jeni Reeves Art Exhibition (virtual), hosted by Paul Craft & Denise Legnini, Nashville, TN, 1990.
CNB&T bank, NY landscapes, solo exhibition, Canandaigua, NY, 1989.
Nan Miller Gallery, group exhibition, 7th annual Philadelphia Art Show, PA, 1989
‘Life Images’, 3-person exhibition, Austin-Harvard Gallery, Rochester, NY, 1989
‘An African in America, An American in Africa’, paintings of Kenya, 2-person exhibition with potter Adu-Gyamfi, Austin-Harvard Gallery, Rochester NY, 1988.
‘The Nutcracker’ illustrator for Lutterworth Press CB project, Cambridge, UK, 1987-88.
Representation at Lutterworth Press, children’s books, Cambridge, UK, 1985-88.
KENYA
‘The Colour in Africa’, solo exhibition, the British Council, Nairobi, Kenya, 1986.
Representation at Gallery Watatu, Nairobi, Kenya, 1985-86.
Artwork for Kenyan Red Cross, 1986.
Representation: Children’s book agent, Vanessa Charles, London, UK 1985-86.
LONDON UK
Illustrator/writer, adapting tales for children’s books on spec, London & Kenya, 1979-84.
SPS Design, Art Designer/Illustrator, product design, London UK, 1979-83.
Debenham’s Fashion catalogue/illustrator freelance for layouts in magazine, London UK, 1979.
The Times newspaper, freelance cartoon illustrations, London UK, 1978.
Designer/products freelance, Jigga Jagga Ltd, London UK, 1976-78.
Infovision Ltd., Animator/Graphic Illustrator, film production, London UK, 1976-79.
University of Westminster, (London Polytechnic) guest lecturer, freelance London, UK, 1976-79.
UPSTATE NEW YORK
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY, group exhibition, 1974.
Co-producer/director/scriptwriter, film short ‘Token’, shown at Winter Olympics, NY, 1974.
Co-producer, presenter ‘Museumpiece’, Herbert L. Johnson Museum, Ithaca, NY, 1974.
Gangster-themed paintings (8) for wine bar ‘The French Connection’, Ithaca, NY, 1972-73.
Arnot Art Museum, group exhibition, Elmira, NY, 1973.
Art Designer/Illustrator/supervisor, Cornell University, Roberts Hall, 1973-76.
Bledstone Productions, vice-president, film production, Ithaca, NY, 1973-75.
WCIC-TV, writer/presenter weather & film critique, 1971-73.
Ithaca Art Association, Community Art Show, group exhibition, 1973.
Art in the Park, Dewitt Park, Ithaca, NY, 1973.
Paintings for The Golden Garter restaurant, saloon-themed, Ithaca, NY, 1972.
Paintings from the Odyssey (10 oils/canvas) for The Odyssey Restaurant, Ithaca, NY, 1972-73.
ITALY
Paramount Pictures, continuity extra in Zeffirelli’s ‘Brother Sun, Sister Moon, 1971.
Accademia delle Belle Arti, Perugia, Italy, sculpture, drawing, and printing, 1970-71.
12 paintings solo show, new molecular technique, Bar Torreno, Perugia, 1970.
Università per Strangieri di Perugia, Italy, Italian studies, 1970.
ITHACA NEW YORK
Painting and portrait commissions, 1968-69.
Ithaca Art Association, Community Art Show, group exhibition, 1968.
Ithaca Art Association, Community Art Show, group exhibition, 1967.
Head’s Camera Shop, Photo lab/photographer/camera sales/window designer, 1966-69/1972.
Ithaca Art Association, Community Art Show, group exhibition, 1965.
EDUCATION
Highlights Foundation courses with Harold Underdown 2024-25
SCBWI workshops and showcases, NY, IA, NC, 2005-2019,
University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival, diverse writing workshops IA, 2004-2015,
Life classes throughout career: Academia, Perugia Italy; Battersea Art Center, London; Hobart College, Geneva, NY; Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, IA; private group, Chapel Hill, NC, Natural History Museum, Raleigh, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, Outer Banks, NC, 1970-present.
Ithaca College audit/course work, Method Acting, 1972
Academia di Belle Arti ‘Pietro Vannucci’ di Perugia, 1970-71,
sculpture/graphics/drawing
Università per Stranieri di Perugia, 1970,
Italian language and culture
Cornell University audit course work in Italian/Psychology
Commercial Art courses,
'Illustration/design/techniques’
Charles O. Dickerson High School, Regents graduate/honor student/college entry/Majors History & Languages/ Honor Society, etc.
1962-65