Synthia Saint James facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Synthia Saint James
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| Born | February 11, 1949 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Visual artist, author, educator and actor in the 70s. |
| Nationality | American |
Synthia Saint James was born on February 11, 1949. She is a talented American artist, author, and speaker. She also worked as an educator and actor in the 1970s. Synthia Saint James is famous for her bold and colorful artwork.
She is well-known for creating the original cover art for the book Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan. Synthia Saint James also designed the very first Kwanzaa stamp for the United States Postal Service. This stamp was first released in 1997. Later, she designed the Kwanzaa Forever Stamp, which came out in 2016.
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About Synthia Saint James
Synthia Saint James grew up in two big cities: Los Angeles, California and the Bronx, New York. She discovered her passion for art early on. She sold her very first painting when she was 20 years old in New York City. Today, she lives in Los Angeles, where she continues to create amazing art.
Her Creative Journey
Synthia Saint James has had a very interesting career, using her talents in many ways.
Acting and Early Art Shows
In 1976, Synthia Saint James appeared in a movie called Emma Mae. She played the character Ulika Stansell. The next year, in 1977, she was featured in a national McDonald's TV commercial. She was the spokesperson and counter girl in the ad.
Her first art show where only her work was displayed happened in 1977. It was at the Inner City Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California. This was also where she studied performing arts. A few years later, in 1980, her art was shown internationally for the first time in Paris, France.
Special Recognition
Synthia Saint James has been honored for her contributions to art and education. On May 8, 2010, she received a special degree. It was an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Humane Letters) from Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, North Carolina. This means the university recognized her great achievements.
Awards and Honors
Synthia Saint James has received many awards for her work as an artist and author. Here are some of her notable recognitions:
- In 1997, she won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for her book Neeny Coming Neeny Going. This is a very important award for children's book illustrators.
- Also in 1997, she received the UNICEF Greeting Card Award.
- In 2001, she won the Oppenheim Gold Award for her book To Dinner, For Dinner.
- In 2010, she was honored with a Trumpet Award in the Arts category.
- She was also inducted into the Hall of Fame by the National Association of Women Business Owners, Los Angeles Chapter, in 2010.
- In 2015, she received the Villager Award from Afram Global Organization Inc.
Her book, "Living My Dream: An Artistic Approach to Marketing," was recognized in 2012. It was nominated for an Outstanding Literary Work-Instructional category at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards.
