Bob's Resume
(back to Painting)

A simple introduction

I am a landscape painter, art teacher, designer, gardener, with a passion for children and their families.

For 17 years, I ran my own graphic design business, providing concept development, strategic development, market positioning, creative direction, art direction, design, writing and editing, and illustration in both traditional and electronic media.

In the fall of 2002, I closed my downtown design office (design: Robert W. Schmitt) to pursue the creation of Laughing Waters Studio where I continue to do creative direction and graphic design, as well as pursue my painting and teach Chinese landscape painting and calligraphy. I also sell my paintings, and prints and cards of my work from the studio, at regional art fairs (see catalog section of this site).

I am also belong to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) as a member of Twin Cities Friends Meeting. I am called to travel among Friends to revive and strengthen Friends spiritual practices. This ministry is supported in part by the income I draw from the sale of my art work.

Education

• University of Chicago 1968-1970, Chicago, IL, sociology, fine art
• University of Minnesota 1972-1976, Minneapolis, MN, architecture, nursery school certification
• St. Nicholas Centre, 1971, London, ENGLAND, Montesorri training (correspondence course)
• Lok Tok Studio, 1995-present, Toronto, ONT, Chinese landscape painting
• Hong Zhang Studio. 1998-present, Bloomington, MN, Chinese landscape painting

Work experience

2002-present
creative director/graphic designer, painter, teacher, Laughing Waters Studio, Minneapolis, MN

1985-2002
lead designer and owner, design: Robert W. Schmitt, Minneapolis, MN

1984-1985
creative director, Split Infinitive, Saint Paul, MN

1980-1984
graphic designer, Minnesota Department of Education, Saint Paul, MN

1976-1980
early childhood teacher, Early Childhood/Family Education, Valley View Elementary, Bloomington, MN

1972-1976
director, Drop-By Child Care Center, downtown, YWCA, Minneapolis, MN

1972-1976
designer, children’s play spaces, Germination Design, Minneapolis, MN

Exhibitions

Group Show, Ford Centre Gallery,
Minneapolis, MN, 1994

Group Show, Ford Centre Gallery,
Minneapolis, MN, 1995

Sacred Spaces, (joint show with photographer Sue Kylonen) Ford Centre Gallery,
Minneapolis, MN, 1995

Sacred Spaces, (solo remounting as part of Key West Literary Seminar) East Martelo Museum, Key West, FL, 1996

Bob Does Sumi-e, Jackie Does Bob,
(joint show with illustrator Jackie Urbanovic) Ford Centre Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, 1997

Members’ Show, Ming Chiao Chapter, Sumi-e Society of America
Edina Art Center, MN 1999

Members’ Show, Ming Chiao Chapter, Sumi-e Society of America
Rochester Art Center, MN 1999

Breathing room (joint show with installation
artists Kristina Estell, Abinadi Meza and Kris MacCallum), diStilo Gallery, Minneapolis, 2002

Five Foot Show
Gallery 360, Minneapolis, MN 2003

Members’ Show, Ming Chiao Chapter, Sumi-e Society of America
Edina Art Center, MN 2003

Members’ Show, Ming Chiao Chapter, Sumi-e Society of America
Faribault Art Center, Faribault, MN 2003

Members’ Show, Ming Chiao Chapter, Sumi-e Society of America
Edina Art Center, MN 2005

Commissions

Identifying art for the annual Key West Literary Seminars 1996, 1998-present

Series of six paintings to illustrate poetry
by Mark Doty for Literature in the Age of AIDS, Key West Literary Seminar, Key West, FL, 1996

Series of eight paintings to illustrate haiku by Larry Gross for premiere issue of HAIGA Online, an internet magazine, Minneapolis, MN, 1998

Identifying art for The Boston Globe Jazz & Blues Festival, 2001

Collections

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance,
Milwaukee, WI, corporate art collection