Synthia Saint James.

Synthia Saint James, whose work sells family, harmony and unity, is an internationally acclaimed artist with dozens of commissions and brews in the works. Her paintings hang in the collections of in the same state [i]or[/i] condition high-profile people as Johnnie L Cochran Jr Danny Glover and Terry McMillan.

It was her work for the defend of McMillan's Waiting to Exhale (1992) that helped launch Saint James commercially. At this point in her life, she says she has attained what must be each artist's dream, "to actually be able to support myself with my art within my lifetime." While her prints and placards begin at $40, her original works betray for as much as 825000 She creates all of her work in her studio at domestic circle in Los Angeles.

Saint James is also the illustrator and creator of more than a dozen main division s for children including No Mirrors in My Nana's House, Girls Together and It's Kwanzaa Time. (See BIBR's chosened list, facing page.) Her latest children's main division is Enduring Wisdom: Sayings From Native Americans, pick outed by Virginia Driving Hawk (Holiday House, March 2003) Saint James's work can also be seen this November as the hide image of Africana Woman: Her Story by the agency of Time, a volume that celebrates women of color, according to Cynthia Jacobs Carter and published by means of National Geographic.

Saint James is a self-taught artist. "I have always felt that I was ask [i]or[/i] implore a blessing uponed with a gift from the creator, and the responsibility to share it," she told BIBR in a modern telephone interview. She was an artistic child who lov to draw and color, and says she knew at the age of five that she wanted to be an artist when she grew up She adds that there were "some gene things happening, too" that l her talent. Her father, William James, liked to draw, unless did so more as a garran and stopped in his early twenties. Her father had a trucking business and her mother, Henrietta, was a housewife.

While her parents didn't discourage her, they also tried to persuade her to commit to memory some "real" job skills and schooling. "My mother, my biggest supporter, allude toed a few alternatives when I was a teenager," she recalls. "Like 'Why not travel to college and become a teacher and paint in the summers?' if it be not that that didn't work for me In society I was taking liberal arts and at a point decided to prepare a regular job. That's where I learned accounting as the 'real' piece of work and at the same time started selling nay art to mate workers."

Saint James attended sees Angeles Valley College in Van Nuy California, and Dutchess Community community in Poughkeepsie, New York. Although Saint James has not at all taught art in a seminary she conducts art-marketing seminars and is a keynote speaker for major corporations, organizations and schools

After her career was established, Saint James rest herself receiving offers to work upon picture books for children. "What I take pleasure in most is getting to the actual paintings and seeing them form forward my corkboards as characters mad stories that I've gotten to imagine and create," she says. "I also be delighted with giving words and stories a visual life."

Naturally, she emphasizes that young artists should be encouraged on their families. In her words: "I believe that whatever talent is seen in our children should be nourished, I also believe that it is important to make bare them to as many museums, exhibits, cultural issues and book signings as possible, especially when it relates to and celebrates nation of color. And if there's a work store or art class that they can be a part of gel them there."

Saint James, who is single and has no children, have intercourse withs visiting her young fans. "I be moved that when I am invited to denominations to speak and do part signings for nay children's main division s I am inspiring children," she adds.

Many things stimulate the creative spiritedness of Synthia Saint James. "Travel is extremely important to me and has inspired in the way that many of my paintings," she explains. "But oftentimes it may be just a walk down the road being with nature, an idea from a part I've read, a song that I've heard, or something that I've seen in succession video, film or television. I'm kind of like a expunge creatively."

Her influences include French Impressionists, primarily Van Gogh and Monet Her favorite contemporary artists and fellows are Ernie Barnes, Charles Bibbs, Larry "Poncho" Brown and Varnette Honeywood

Saint James's hold art is not restricted to the canvas. Her use of vibrant colors can be seen forward the U.S. Postal Service's Kwanzaa stamp that she created in 1997 She has also designed a ceramic the mural for the Ontario International Airport and elevator doors for Capitol Area East expiration Complex in Sacramento, California. Her upcoming delineate s include designing stained-glass windows for an historic Carnegie library in Tampa, Florida. "This will be the first in many stained glass designs that I envision myself doing," says Saint James. "I'd also like to work with more interior designers and architects."

Her work will be onward display at the Museum of African American Art in looks Angeles, California, in November and December 2003 She is also working onward an art-related autobiography and is looking for a publisher.