Aaron Douglas moved to New York City in 1925 where he joined the burgeoning arts scene in Harlem (Aaron Douglas). He quickly grew a reputation for himself and became immersed to Harlem’s cultural life (Biography.com). As Biography.com Editors state, “He contributed illustrations to Opportunity, the National Urban League's magazine, and to The Crisis, put out by the National Association for the Advancement Colored People. Because of Douglas’s reputation he became a demand illustrator for for many writers.” Based off of his success he believed in mentoring and inspiring generations so they can achieve greater accomplishments (Ragar 9”). Most of Douglas’s best known paintings came around the 1930’s. Soon after Aaron’s solo art show he started some of his most legendary works. A series of murals entitled Aspects of Negro Life that featured four panels, each depicting a different part of the African-American experience (Biography.com). Douglas soon returned back to Fisk University, where he became an assistant professor at the time. He was invited by many colleges and Universities to come and speak from all around the country (Ragar 11). The editors of Biography.com point out that, “He later won other grants to support his artistic endeavors. Continuing to produce new works, Douglas had a number of solo exhibits over the …show more content…
At the age of 80 Lois still produces powerful paintings that are bold and unique (Laduke 1). Lois began with art at a very young stage in her life (Rowell). She was encouraged by her parents to pursue her interest in art. The author in “An interview with Lois Jones” pointed out that her mother and father realized she had talent and supplied her with excellent crayons, pencils, and paper (357). Lois says, “I owe a great deal to both my mother and father for taking an interest in me”(Rowell). As stated in, “The Grande Dame of Afro-American Art” Lois not only achieved her goals as an artist, but she became an inspiring art educator and role model during the 47 years of teaching drawing, design, and watercolor painting at Howard University in Washington D.C. (1). “The Career of an African American Woman Artist” explains how Jones was one of ten African-American artist honored by President Jimmy Carter at the White house for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts (44). Her dedication to art is like no other, even after she suffered two severe heart attacks immediately upon recovery, she left to go paint for the summer on Martha’s Vineyard (Jones