JD Emmerson

Artist • Author • Former Hollywood Art Director



   Raised in rural Iowa and surrounded by endless cornfields, JD Emmerson discovered an extraordinary gift for hyper-realistic graphite portraiture at age nine. Entirely self-taught, his early obsession with Rock ’n’ Roll icons led to national art competition wins, beginning in fifth grade. This set the foundation for a career defined by discipline, precision, and creative fearlessness.

   At 19, Emmerson earned a Gold Medal in the National Skill Olympics for advanced airbrushing, presented personally by President Ronald Reagan, who urged him to commit to excellence for the rest of his life. That promise became a guiding principle.

   In 1987, Emmerson arrived in Hollywood with just $27 and was hired within minutes by legendary music-video director Wayne Isham. This pivotal moment launched a 32-year career as a highly sought-after art director, working directly with cultural icons, including Michael Jackson, KISS, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, Judas Priest, Sammy Hagar, Sade, Dick Clark, and many others.



His simple motto: 'Live to create. Create to live.'

His simple motto: "Live to create. Create to live."

   Over his Hollywood tenure, Emmerson created more than 4,400 album covers, movie posters, and major advertising campaigns across music, film, and consumer brands.

   Extensive annual travel throughout Asia further refined his artistic philosophy and visual discipline.

   In recent years, Emmerson transitioned fully into fine art, opening successful galleries and developing a body of work that spans hyper-realistic graphite and expressive abstraction.

   Now based in Oklahoma, he works with global collectors and galleries while preparing the 2026 release of his first two books, “Legends in Graphite” and “Dying to Live.”



Renee Fite - Artist, Writer

   Tahlequah has been home and where Renee raised her five children, and some of her grandchildren live. She owned Renee’s School of Dance for a number of years before she began writing for local newspapers - Tahlequah Daily Press the longest, and she was managing editor of the Stilwell Democrat Journal when she retired.

   Art has always been a place of entertainment and comfort, and she has enjoyed watercolor the most, finds basket weaving and pottery also fun, but has been focusing on stained glass in recent years. Watercolor is a no mess medium, with easy clean up and she enjoys “playing with paint.”

   After participating in the Oklahoma Arts Council Leadership Arts program in 2014, she found friends at Molly and the late Jerrald Peterson’s Starvin’ Artist monthly pot luck lunches who joined together to establish the current Cherokee County Arts and Humanities Coalition, Inc., dba Arts Council of Tahlequah.