Artist & Illustrator
Columbus P. Knox
My approach to art is a way of recording life a I see it. If you take time to look there is so much to see.
The red orange rising sun in early morning against a lavender sky, the slant of a slant of a leaf heavy with morning dew, the busy rhythm of honey bees as they travel from flower to flower, the many standing attitudes of children at play running about with their boundless energy, the flight of gulls on the shore soaring like a glides in flight, the color changes of the trees in autumn, the swirling patterns of winter snow are just some of the things I see and try to record, but most of all I watch people. People are most interesting sights to me, the facial characteristics, body movements, and the strange things they do. I guess you might say in my paintings I record various interesting events dealing with life as I see it.
I see patterns of continuous movements in shapes and color which I call rhythms I attempt to combine all of these movements to form a pleasing composition with enough magnetism to attract and hold your attention so that you can feel what I feel, enjoy what I enjoy and see the beauty of life the way I see it.
Columbus P. Knox
Attended Barrett Junior High School was immediately recognized for his talent in art at an early age. Upon graduation attended Central High School which later became Ben Franklin High School.
After he finished high school Mr. Knox received a four-year scholarship to the Museum School of Industrial Arts in Philadelphia. The instruction was interrupted for military service in the Army during World War 11. Mr Knox returned after the war to resume his art education. He painted murals in the tri-state area of Philadelphia with Leonard Studios Mural Arts Co. and the Reliance Art Service (illustrator) which his older brother owned who was also an accomplished artist. At the Museum School he studied drawing, color and design, watercolor, painting and illustration. After five years of intensive study, Mr. Knox graduated and began to make his way as an illustrator and painter. One of his first paintings was “The Charging Warriors (fuzzy Wuzzies) This painting is listed in “Who’s Who in Black Art”. Many other paintings followed such as, Pebbles” (oil)-Little black girl in bifocals which took first prize in the NAEC Art Competition. Knox has been commissioned to do many paintings most of which consisted of portraits and murals.
One of these murals was a life-size portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Martin Luther King High School in Philadelphia. Mr. Knox has Held various positions in the art field such as: Assistant Director in charge of graphics (Naval Supply Depot) Field Representative-Graphics (Philco/ford) Contract Monitor in Graphics (Naval Weapons Service Office) Media Specialist (Art Direction Research for Better Schools ) Mr. Knox did Freelance art work as well for Reliance Art Service (illustrator) Leonard Studios (Spot Drawings, Lettering) Mural Arts,(Interior and Murals) Philadelphia Inquirer, (Spot Drawings) All American Comics, (Cartoonist) Westminster Press, (illustrator) Evangelist Publications (illustrator), Renner Advertisers (Ink Tracer/detailer), Wieman Uniforms, (illustrator) Franklin Mint, (illustrator Sculptor) Engineering Consultants and Publications (Presentation Specialist), Philadelphia Display, (illustrator) Research for Better Schools (Art Director, curriculum Development Association (illustrator) B-C Graphics, (illustrator) Time-Life Books (illustrator Designer), Quadrus Inc. (Art Director) Track master Magazine (staff artist) While achieving many accolades in his life. Mr. Knox was a father of 10 children and happily married for over 50years to his beloved wife Lola.
Most of all he loved God!