Hermon Adams, Artist~The Early Years

Who is Hermon Adams?  Where did he get his start as a fine artist?  Where is Hermon today?  The following story will tell of some Hermon's experiences and the obstacles he has overcome to keep on his path.  Each day, I will relay stories from the past and when I figure it out, I will post photos of interest. I am Hermon's wife, Sheila, of forty-one years and his biggest fan, along with sons, Jim & Rob, and his newest fans Brooke, Rob's wife, and Corban Adams, age 3.
      Hermon Adams is a self-taught fine artist who paints in a romantic, realism style.  Painting horses, Native Americans, wildlife, landscapes, and fantasy that draws you into his world to tell the stories the artwork reveals. No one can teach what he can do.  Hermon says the imagination is the key to the talent.  Hard work and painting every day is the way to learn to paint the image.
              
While living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, before Hermon went on the road with the Artist Touring Association, he worked as Art Director for a photographic studio that put out catalogs for the furniture market.  Hermon had been under a great amount of stress that year, because the Monday after having closed the loan on our new house the Friday before, Hermon had been fired from the job doing architectural renderings that took us from Charlotte to Winston-Salem. His boss had waited until Hermon had completed the last rendering he had on the easel, before he sent someone else to inform Hermon that they would no longer be needing his services.  We had just moved into the house over the weekend.  I will never forget the look on Hermon's face when he greeted me that afternoon!  He turned ashen and had a look of total terror on his face.  The whole situation sent terror into our hearts.  Our baby was five months old and I wasn't working.
                  Hermon went to an employment agency, then to a placement bureau, creating a job for himself placing artists.  He then found his job at Aldermann Studios, the largest photographic studio in the world.  They made the Sears catalog, along with other catalogs for the furniture market.While beginning at Alderman Studios in High Point, he had trained for something called "cut and but stripping."  I wasn't certain that I wanted him to go to Chicago for two weeks to learn to do this.  It sounded almost obscene!  But, as it turned out, he was the only one who could do it and it was in high demand.  (Actually, it was an advertising term used in fusing two images to seem as one.) Hermon was the best man for the job. 

Meanwhile, I wrapped up the baby and went to the first school I could find.  I had a meeting with the principal and told her of our problem.  She was wonderful and put me to work right away, doing office work.  Then onto the classroom as a substitute.  She called around and found a second grade teaching position in Rural Hall, 15 miles away.  I started the job the following January. I loved my job and taught there for five years.
                      
 Hermon bought a motorcycle for the 45-mile, twice daily trip back and forth from Winston to High Point.  One afternoon, it came a downpour!  Hermon had no rain gear.  The lady that worked with him, Kathy, was recruited into one of Hermon's quick-fix ideas.  They  took visquene, cut it into a body suit to be taped with silver duct tape.  Hermon was lying on the floor, spread eagle, while Kathy was dutifully taping the crotch area, when who should walk in but the big boss!  Try explaining that one!  Kathy was horrified.  The poor girl.  (Years later, she applauded me for having lasted so long and getting sucked into Hermon's endless schemes.)

We learned many lessons during our early years.  We both worked hard to better ourselves and to keep our family healthy, happy and prosperous.  Hermon had a big dream of becoming a famous  artist.  I wanted to be part of his dream and keep my dream alive, that of being a good wife, mother, and partner to the love of my life. 

Today, we live in Prescott, AZ, have seen both sons complete school, find honorable careers, and one has begun a family of his own.  Hermon has done many things that have made his artwork known all over the world.  He has to his credit over forty-eight sold-out limited edition lithographs of his artwork.  He has had licensing agreements wth the Franklin Mint and Bradford Exchange for collector plates, Leanin'Tree & Tree Free for greeting cards, Hasbro for Milton Bradley puzzles, western book covers, calendars, tee shirts from The Mountain, and various and sundry small items of interest.  His collectors  include Raymond James Financial CEO, hotel magnate Richard Kessler, the Roy Rodgers family, Burt Reynolds and the crown prince of Jordan, Ambassador to the United States.  His paintings hang in several museums, banks, board rooms, and corporate offices.