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Vernon Washington was born October 17, 1963, in Columbus, Ohio. His interest in art began at age seven, which consisted of copying Warner Bros. cartoons. At this early age, his interest in wildlife was developed with frequent trips with his family to the Columbus Zoo.
Vernon briefly studied art at Atlanta College of Art, and took additional art courses at Western Oklahoma State College. He joined the United States Air Force in July 1985 and spent the first three years of his service in Fairbanks, Alaska. While in Alaska, the artist made numerous field sketches of moose, wolves, wolverines, whales, eagles, bears, and foxes. This experience cemented his desire to paint the natural world.
In 1991, he illustrated articles for Charleston Magazine, "The Religion of the Past, and Gamecocks Forever." In 1993, a friend introduced him to the proprietor of the Audubon Wildlife Gallery, Polly Holden. The gallery began to exhibit his wildlife paintings in the winter of 1994. In 1996, he was invited to participate in an art exhibition, Friends of the National Zoo, where his paintings were displayed alongside icons of the genre such as, Robert Bateman, Terry Isaac, Matthew Hillier, Joe Garcia, Jan McGuire, Nancy Howe, and Al Agnew.
Vernon briefly studied art at Atlanta College of Art, and took additional art courses at Western Oklahoma State College. He joined the United States Air Force in July 1985 and spent the first three years of his service in Fairbanks, Alaska. While in Alaska, the artist made numerous field sketches of moose, wolves, wolverines, whales, eagles, bears, and foxes. This experience cemented his desire to paint the natural world.
In 1991, he illustrated articles for Charleston Magazine, "The Religion of the Past, and Gamecocks Forever." In 1993, a friend introduced him to the proprietor of the Audubon Wildlife Gallery, Polly Holden. The gallery began to exhibit his wildlife paintings in the winter of 1994. In 1996, he was invited to participate in an art exhibition, Friends of the National Zoo, where his paintings were displayed alongside icons of the genre such as, Robert Bateman, Terry Isaac, Matthew Hillier, Joe Garcia, Jan McGuire, Nancy Howe, and Al Agnew.
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In February 1998, an article published in Wildlife Art Magazine, titled "In Living Color," was written about him, his techniques, sales, and interest in African wildlife. In the spring of 1998, he wrote an article, "What Inspires Me: African Wildlife," for Watercolor Magazine. He was featured in an art exhibition at Studio Open on Folly Beach, from February to May 2007. Kudu Kitu, a boutique in Charleston exhibited Vernon`s paintings and mentioned this exhibit in an interview for the international magazine, Goge Africa, September 2007.
Vernon has displayed his original watercolor paintings at the Charleston Gallery, Tidwell Gallery, African American Art Gallery currently known as Gallery Chuma, Silbers Gallery, and the Avery Research Center. He`s been honored with several one man shows, and numerous group shows. His paintings adorn the walls of professional businesses, and homes throughout the United States and Africa. To this date, he has painted over 800 original watercolor paintings. He maintains his home and studio in Charleston, SC., with his wife Debbie.
Vernon has displayed his original watercolor paintings at the Charleston Gallery, Tidwell Gallery, African American Art Gallery currently known as Gallery Chuma, Silbers Gallery, and the Avery Research Center. He`s been honored with several one man shows, and numerous group shows. His paintings adorn the walls of professional businesses, and homes throughout the United States and Africa. To this date, he has painted over 800 original watercolor paintings. He maintains his home and studio in Charleston, SC., with his wife Debbie.