For many years, patrons of world-renowned art galleries
and museums have been blessed by the artistic magic created by Carl Owens. Television
viewers have caught glimpses of this magic in the form of one of his most popular
paintings, "Little Flower," which is featured on the kitchen wall
of the "Living Single" set.
Mr. Owens' professional
experience in the field of art began when he served as an illustrator in the
U.S. Army. Afterward, he taught art in the Detroit Public Schools in Michigan
and later served as staff artist for the school system. The Detroit resident
has been a self-employed artist for more than 30 years.
The award-winning
artist began his career in portraiture and continues to work in this field.
With his unique talents, he has recreated the physical images of U.S. Congressman
John Conyers, Jr.; Rosa Parks; Motown's Berry Gordy; and Reggie Jackson, a former
professional baseball player.
Among his many works
are paintings of King Affonso I and King Khama in the "Great Kings of Africa"
series for Anheuser Busch, Inc. and 25 "Soul of a Nation" drawings
for the McDonald's Corporation. Honorees of the "Strong Men & Women:
Excellence in Leadership" series are beneficiaries of Mr. Owens' artistic
talents, as he has been commissioned to paint their portraits for several years.
Mr. Owens has exhibited
in numerous galleries throughout the world, and his art is in the collections
of the governments of Egypt, Grenada, and Zimbabwe.
This past year,
Mr. Owens organized a weekly drawing and painting group, which meets at the
Art Department at Spelman College. Art students and older professional artists
in Atlanta come together to learn and share.
One has to look
no further than Mr. Owens' sons to realize how significant art is in his life,
and thus their lives. Brian is a successful, self-employed sculptor in Orlando,
Florida, and Tau is a self-employed musician in Detroit, Michigan, and the owner
of several music-related businesses.
To America's young artists, from
Carl Owens: "Don't make the mistake of waiting to be 'discovered.' Take
the initiative as you begin your own quest for creative fulfillment."
