DEAN SHELTON

Little Rock, Arkansas is my hometown. I have always loved art and as early as elementary school. probably spent time drawing when I should have been focusing on other subjects! After a stint in the US Navy, I attended Arkansas Tech and majored in Art. After graduation, I studied at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles for several months before moving to Nashville, Tennessee.

In Nashville was employed at the Baptist Sunday School Board as an artist designer for almost 5 years then spent over 30 years as freelance illustrator in the publishing industry. Some have asked how illustration relates to fine arts, my answer is always “Drawing is the foundation of art and working as an illustrator helped me develop skills that I use in painting, especially with commissioned pieces.”

The shift away from illustration gave me more time to broaden my skills and try new mediums and techniques. I currently maintain an art studio in my home in Fairview and enjoy painting my surroundings.