Artist Statement: This series of drawings are David Soman’s visual meditations on our relationship to the natural world, and our place in its cycles of creation and destruction. Soman draws on the traditions of both representational and abstract art to explore interactions between shadow and light, mass and line, and the seen and unseen, focusing on the circular relationship between his medium, charcoal, and his subject matter, firewood. The resulting images— detailed, geometric and without central focal points, aim to capture this complexity, inviting the eye to sit with these questions. Artist CV: EDUCATIONOberlin College B.A. 1983-87 EXHIBITIONS● 2023, 2021, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008,1999, 1991- 94, - Children's Book Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators2025 “Hi” Group show at Planthouse Gallery NYC, NY● 2024 Making; Exhibition at Ulster College, Stoneridge, NY● 2024 IFPDA Print Fair with Planthouse Gallery NYC, NY● 2023 -Shelter: solo show at Planthouse Gallery, NYC, NY● 2023 -Fall: Group Show at Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY● 2023 -Friendship Through the Pages; group show Claaverack Free Library, Claaverack, NY● 2022 -Properties of Illusion in the Candy Store: group show at ArtPort, Kingston, NY● 2019- Sanctuary; Group show at The Kingston City Hall● 2019-To Know the Light; Group Show at Wired Gallery, High Falls, NY● 2017 - The Illustrators’ Show, SUNY Ulster, NY● 2017- Three Bears in a Boat at the Rochester Children’s Museum, Rochester, NY (solo exhibit)● 2011 –Mill Street Loft, Poughkeepsie, NY (Solo Show)● 2003- T-Shirt Factory, Kingston, NY● 2000 - The Allied Artists Show, New York City● 2000 - Audubon Art Show, New York City● 2000 - Pastel Society, New York City● 1999-2000 Arc Gallery, Scottsdale AZ● 1992 - Blackwell Street Center for the Arts, Dover NJ● 1987- Oberlin College AWARDS and HONORS● Ezra Jack Keats/Unicef Award: Tell Me A Story Mama by Angela Johnson● Correta Scott King Honor Award: When I am Old With You by Angela Johnson● The Aileen & Manuel Torres Graphics Award● Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Award● New York Times Bestsellers List 2008-2016● Children’s Choice Best Illustrator of the Year Finalist 2010● Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2015: Three Bears in a Boat● Mill Street Loft Friend of the Arts Award (2017)● New York State Assembly Citation (2017)● New York Senate Certificate of Recognition (2017)● 2017 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year: The Monster Next Door● 2019 New York Public Library Best Book for Kids: How to Two● 2019 BCCB 2019 Blue Ribbon Picture Book: How to Two● 2020 Bank Street Children’s Books of the Year: Agent Lion● 2023 Bank Street Children’s Books of the Year: Papa’s Home● 2023 Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year: Papa’s Home Teaching● Children's Book Illustration: 1992: Present: School of Visual Arts● Watercolors: 1992-Present: School of Visual Arts● Pictorial Problems 2006- Present: School of Visual Arts● Watercolor Painting 2003-2006: Mill Street Loft● Figure Painting 2004-2007: Mill Street Loft● Portfolio 2004-2008: Mill Street Loft Children's Book IllustratorSelected books include:● Tell Me a Story by Angela Johnson (Orchard Books 1989)● When I Am Old With You by Angela Johnson (Orchard Books 1990)● One of Three by Angela Johnson (Orchard Books 1991)● The Leaving Morning by Angela Johnson (Orchard Books 1992)● Pole Dog by Tres Seymour (Orchard Books1993)● The Key Into Winter by Janet S. Anderson (Albert Whitman & Co.,1994),● Grandpa’s Hotel by Riki Levinson (Orchard Books 1995)● This Is The Bird by George Shannon (Houghton Mifflin, 1997)● Great Grandmother’s Treasure by Ruth Hickcox (Dial Books 1998)● You’re Not My Best friend Anymore by Charlotte Pomerantz (Dial Books 1998)● The Wedding by Angela Johnson (Orchard Books 1999)● Only One Cowry retold by Phillis Gershator (Orchard Books, 2000)● Splash by Constance Levy (Orchard Books 2002)● It Takes a Family to Serve by Lisa Wheeler (Harper Books 2026) Children’s Books Author and Illustrator● Ladybug Girl by David Soman and Jacky Davis (Dial Books 2008)● Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy by David Soman and Jacky Davis (Dial Books 2009)● Ladybug Girl at the Beach by David Soman and Jacky Davis (Dial Books 2010)● Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad by David Soman and Jacky Davis (Dial Books 2011)● The Amazing Adventures of Bumblebee Boy by David Soman and Jacky Davis (Dial Books 2011)● Ladybug Girl and Bingo by David Soman and Jacky Davis (Dial Books 2012)● Ladybug Girl and the Big Snow by David Soman and Jacky Davis (Dial Books 2013)● Three Bears in a Boat by David Soman (Dial Books, 2014)● Ladybug Girl and the Best Playdate Ever by David Soman and Jacky Davis (Dial Books, 2015)● The Monster Next Door by David Soman (Dial Books 2016)● Ladybug Girl’s Day Out with Grandpa (Dial Books 2017)● Ladybug Girl and the Rescue Dogs (Dial Books 2018)● How to Two (Dial Books 2019)● Agent Lion (Harper Books 2020)● Agent Lion and the Case of the Missing Party (Harper Books 2021)● The Impossible Mountain (Little,Brown 2021)● Papa’s Home (Little, Brown 2023)● Elvis & Romeo (Simon &Schuster 2025) Additional Illustrations of Note● The Children’s Book Council Special Edition Library Poster; 2000● American Library Association Reading Poster; 2011● A Celebration of Beatrix Potter (Grosset and Dunlap, 2016)