About

For almost 40 years, Flint native Ed Watkins has taught visual arts and design, which emphasizes the importance of observational skills practiced in life drawing classes. For Watkins, however, “drawing from life” is not just a necessary technical skill but is how he defines his creative practice, using his personal observations to guide what he creates. Watkins’ art work represents his lived social and spiritual experience as a Black artist, and the Black experience is central to his work. Watkins’  large drawing and mixed media work employ a visual magic realism; his figures are rendered with exquisite draftsmanship, and elements within his drawings add layers of symbolism and storytelling.

EDUCATION

Eastern Michigan University
Masters of Art | Studio Art
(completed 18 hrs. of graduate work in Drawing & Printmaking, 2007 – 2010)

Bowling Green State University
Masters of Education | Education Administration | 1977
Bachelor of Education | Art Education (Drawing & Painting, 1972)

FEATURED

Director’s Choice, Flint Institute of Arts
A publication of writing and selected works of art by Director, Tracee J. Glab, from the museums collection of American and European artists .

Flint, MI
December 2023

MYCITY Magazine,
Flint, MI
March 2022

FIA Magazine
Flint, MI
January – February 2022

Detroit Art Review
Critical art reviews of Detroit Galleries and museums weekly.
Drawing from Life Exhibition
Flint Institute of Arts
Flint, MI
March 5, 2022

UMass Amherst
Clemete Classroom
100 word stories on Breathing While Black, Fall 2021

Buckham Art Gallery
Flint, MI
4th Annual, Smallidge series Guest Lecturer, 2019

The Flint Journal Newspaper
Flint, MI
Editorial Illustrator & Designer, 1997 – 2002

AWARDS

2022 Second place award
“BIPOC is the Theme”, a juried National Exhibition & Competition

2022 BGSU Athletic Hall of Fame - 1972 National Indoor Track Runner-up team

2016 Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame - Track & Field (BGSU)

2009 Graduate Award for Artistic Excellence
Eastern Michigan University

2009 University Fellowship Award
Eastern Michigan University

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