Jerome Tarpley states “when he takes a blank canvas, he paints his thoughts and feelings, as a poet would do with words, with the aim of making the viewer feel connection and emotion.” His unique style of using vibrant overlapping colors from which an underlying image emerges has been described as mesmerizing!

Jerome drew from a very early age. Throughout his childhood, he experimented with abstract drawing and was especially influenced by Picasso and Gustav Klimt. A teacher and mentor, impressed by his talent, encouraged a career in art. He graduated from the Ringling College of Art & Design, Sarasota, FL. He has studied all forms of art including painting, illustration and graphic design.

When he moved to Atlanta, he began his career as an illustrator for The Art Studio. He also worked for Miller Zell Design Studio creating store graphics for retail environments such as Sears, Nissan, and Goodyear.

He decided to embark on an independent career and established himself as a successful freelance graphic designer. Coca-Cola, The Arthritis Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and MARTA are among his numerous corporate accounts. He is nationally renowned for graphic design and illustration. This is evidenced by the multitude of awards for design and creativity he has received which include a CEBA Award (Communication Excellence in Black Advertising) for Coca-Cola, a Bronze and Silver Award from the Calendar Marketing Association for Pepsi and a distinguished Volunteer Design Award for contribution work for Prevent Child Abuse Georgia.

Jerome states “I’ve always had a passion for fine art and I’ve now moved on to this new chapter in my life. I want to express a more abstract creative style working with oils on canvas. Mixing the richness of the paint with overlaying shapes using vibrant colors, I want to set a mood for my viewers by captivating and engaging them in the life, beauty and movement in my work… sensing the underlying energy.”