Sonia Reid has always been an animal lover and enjoyed the beauty found in nature. Born in Cullman, Alabama in 1964, raised and educated in Gardendale, she attended Auburn University for 5 years and graduated at Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC in 1988 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She then worked as an Interior Designer for 8 years before deciding to paint wildlife full-time. Years ago, Sonia went to Africa to fulfill a once in a lifetime dream. She went with 12 other artists on a 17-day workshop into Tanzania, camping in the Serengeti during the great migration and visiting the famous Ngorongoro Crater. “My soul caught on fire and Africa is now my passion.” Every year, her desire to return to Africa has increased. It has become a passion and something she must do. She has been to Africa many times now, and each time she leaves before she is ready, loving ALL that Africa has to offer. “When I return to the studio, as I look at the many slides that result from my trips, I again feel the emotions and remember each moment. I strive to capture in my paintings what I went to Africa to do. My mission is to record the story and pass the message along; a message of preservation, protection, and celebration of wildlife.” Creating this art has become Sonia’s energy, her inspiration, her passion, since 1996. Since painting wildlife full-time, she has exhibited at many shows, including the prestigious Birds in Art in Wassau, WI and Pac Rim Show in Seattle, WA winning awards along the way. Her happiest moments are when the paintings connect with others who share the passion and understand the story. Oil and graphite are the mediums Sonia chooses to portray the soul of Africa. She is also an avid photographer and collect books on Africa and its wildlife. She met her husband, Chip, during college and they have two children, Dylan and Samantha. They currently live in Winston, GA. EXHIBITIONS 2005 Southeastern Wildlife Expo - Charleston, SC 2005 Safari Club, GA Chapter - Atlanta, GA 2005 Bluff Park Art Show - Birmingham, AL 2005 Breckenridge Art Festival - Breckenridge, CO 2005 Fine Arts Mecca Festival- Carrollton, GA 2002 Wildlife & Western Expo - Lakeland, FL 2001 Blue Ridge Wildlife Art Show - Blue Ridge, GA 2001 Birds In Art - Wausau, WI 2001 Wildcat Art - Fresno, CA 1999 Pac Rim Art Expo - Seattle, W A 1999 FONZ Wildlife Festival- Washington, DC COLLECTIONS Zoo Atlanta - Atlanta, GA Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum - Lagrange, GA Tanner Medical Center - Villa Rica, GA Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Forsyth, GA BIBLIOGRAPHY 2005 Did You Paint That? - 100 Ways To Paint FavoriteSubiects Edition, Vol. I Page 52, "International Artist Publishing, Inc.", Verdi, NV 2005, 2003 "Sporting Classics Magazine" "Pride of Africa" Series Page 162-164 J/F 2005 Page 124-127 M/A 2003 "Sporting Classics", Columbia, SC 2004 "The Artists Magazine" - Finalist, Animal Category Page 54 - "F&W Publications, Inc.", Cincinnati, OH 200 I "Wildlife Art Magazine" - Masters Critique Page 86-87 - Jan/Feb, 2001 -" Pothole Publications, Inc.", Burnsville, MN 2000 "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" - Home & Garden, Feb. 10, 2000 "At Home In The Jungle" Feature Article AWARDS/HONORS 2004 Finalist Anima! Art Category - Artist Magazine 2003 Peoples Choice Award -Bluff Park Art Show 2001 Best of Show - First Place - Blue Ridge Wildlife Art Show 2000 Juror's Choice Award - Mablefest Art Show AFFILIATIONS 2005 Atlanta Artists Center, Atlanta, GA 2005 Society of Animal Artists, Associate Member, New York, NY Worldwide Nature Artists Group, Signature Member, Ontario, Canada Safari Club International Wildlife and Environmentat Society of SA, Howick, South Africa East Africa Wildlife Society, Nairobi, Kenya Africa Wildlife Foundation, Washington, DC EDUCATION 1988 Winthrop College, Rockhill, SC BFA 1982-86 Auburn University, Auburn, AL 1996 Showcase Photo school, Atlanta, GA 1998 Artists Workshop in Africa, Tanzania Studied under: John Banovich, Kobus Moller 2001 Beartooth School of Art, Bozeman, MO Studied under: Simon Combes EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Yearly trips to South & East Africa Safaris to National & State Parks in US, several times a year Photography workshops yearly, Atlanta, GA Old World Art Class - Chris DiDomizio, Atlanta, GA