Born in Johnson City, Tennessee, Rob has been drawing and painting since he was nine. He began his college education at East Tennessee State University with a major in painting and graphic design. Upon graduation he joined the US Air Force serving a year in Vietnam. After receiving an honorable discharge, he attended the University of Georgia where he earned his Master of Fine Arts Degree.
His illustration career began at a design firm in the Washington, DC. area where he worked for two years before becoming a partner in the firm. Eventually, the business evolved into Wood, Ronsaville Harlin, Inc. Today it is an internationally recognized illustration studio with clients worldwide.
Rob has been a member of the Society of Illustrators since 1989 and has had his work accepted in their Annual Illustration Exhibition many times.
He has received awards for excellence from Communication Arts Magazine, the New York Art Directors Club, the American Illustration Annual, the Art Directors Club of Washington, DC (gold and silver medals), Spectrum’s Best in Contemporary Art, inclusion in the National Geographic book on the best diagrams, Best in Show and gold medals from the Illustrators Club of Washington, Maryland and Virginia. In 2001 he received an Award of Honor from East Tennessee State University in recognition for individual accomplishment as an illustrator. He was also a guest lecturer and judge at the World Infographics Conference in Pamplona, Spain and was invited to design and paint an ornament for the White House Christmas Tree. Rob taught illustration at Towson University where he also acted as a graduate advisor. He recently was a painting instructor at St. John’s College in Annapolis.
Rob and his wife Kasandra, currently live on the Chesapeake Bay, near Annapolis.
Exhibited Works & Collections
High Museum of Art, Atlanta
Towson University, MD
Maryland Governors Exhibition
Mitchell Gallery, St. Johns College
Annapolis Collection Gallery
Dawson Gallery, Annapolis MD
Ratner Museum, Bethesda, MD
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen King
Field Museum, Chicago
Elizabeth Slocumb Gallery:
East Tennessee State University
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
West Annapolis Artworks
Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
