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Varnette Honeywood (pictured) was the artist who gave life to "
The Cosby Show." Her paintings covered the walls of the Huxtable home (see some of her work below), adding flare to those colorful sweaters Cliff seemed to love. While not everyone is in agreement on their love for Cliff's sweaters, there's no denying that Honeywood's art was anything less than "tha bomb."
Sadly, Honeywood's life has ended at the young age of 59 years old. She'd been battling cancer for the last two years, finally succumbing to the disease. Now the world is just a little less colorful than it was before.
I was not surprised to read that Honeywood was a Spelmanite, studying Fine Arts at
Spelman College in Atlanta. She earned a Masters Degree at the University of Southern California and focused on teaching art to minority students. Honeywood got her big break with "The Cosby Show," after Bill's wife,
Camille, spotted one of her paintings in the 1970s. The Cosbys then began collecting Honeywood's work and met her shortly after.
"I call her a true depictor of family love," Cosby said. "When you see her art, you see someone you know who is exactly like that, and (the works) actually speak to you."
!['Cosby Show' Artist Varnette Honeywood Dies At 96]()
Honeywood worked with Cosby on a series of books called "
Little Bill." Honeywood then went on to become one of the most prominent black artists in the country.
Honeywood should be commended for creating artwork that celebrated the strength and love of the black family, which goes beyond reminding us of the misery that we've experienced since slavery.
Also, her commitment to featuring the black family in her paintings was in line with "The Cosby Show's mission of providing models of powerful African-American family interactions. May Ms. Honeywood rest in peace.
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Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
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Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.