Tonya Holmes Shook, Pensacola, FL
I have an expansive career in Sketching, painting in watercolor, pastel, and oil. I created an extensive sepia-tone oil body of works for depictions of historical memorabilia.
I drew weekly cartoons for Tucumcari, NM Newspaper and Illustrated an English text book for the Migratory Workers of New Mexico.
First Solo: Wichita Falls, TX; Represented by Major Art Collections, Inc., Austin, TX (one of 30 shown in “The Best of Texas” nationally distributed catalog)
Art Shows: Houston, TX; Albuquerque, NM; OK Historical Soc. Museum Solos - Perry, OK/Old Central at Stillwater, OK; Burkburnett, TX; Wichita Falls, TX; Leslie Powell Gallery, Lawton, OK; Trail of Tears Art Show, Tahlequah, OK; Webb Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, Afternoon Tea, oil painting on temporary loan at Texas State Capitol
A fourteen minute television documentary was taped of my art for airing at Eastern N.M. University - KENW-TV, “Things You Should Know”, hosted by Don Criss of Portales, NM
Served on the Goals Committee for the city of Wichita Falls, TX, in the field of Emergency Medicine.
I was instrumental for introducing the first glucometer to the city of Wichita Falls for public purchase through Dan Rivkin Drug Stores;
I coordinated a 1st meeting of 30 First Responders for a Paramedic Emergency Medical System which met at City View Baptist Church.
Wrote, edited, indexed, illustrated, published and marketed, “Displaced Cherokee: Come Home, Come Home” which took First Place in the l986 OK State Fair in an Open Class Category. Endorsed by the Ok. Dept. of Libraries that year. Libraries, NYC Public Library, Los Angeles Public, State Archives of Tennessee, and many others from coast to coast purchased this book for their reference shelves.
Compiled lifetime writings into manuscript form for the late Kate Routh Harris, “Days Eye, Philosophical Time Line of One Woman's Experience”.
Taught art lessons at our Art Gallery/Gift Shop in Hastings, OK
Wrote a weekly human interest/Americana column for Comanche Times, Comanche, OK.
Owned/operated gift shop/art gallery
Served on Board of Directors for the Chisholm Trail Museum, Waurika, OK
Served on Steering Committee for the Tri County Chisholm Trail Commission, Hastings, OK
Processed wool, spun, made original designs from my yarns sold to boutiques. Wool spinning, carding, blocking demonstrations (product from fleece to finish) at Oklahoma Public Schools (Waurika, Temple, Duncan & Ryan).
I was Invited to show oil painting at Celebration of the Cowboy, First Bank and Trust, Duncan, OK
I accepted invitation to speak from Dr. Mitchell Land, Director of Mayborn School of Journalism at North Texas University, Denton, TX, to his class of Creative Writers on the “Motivation of My Creativity”
Duncan Art League Art Show, Oct. 11th, Duncan, OK. Compiled manuscript of short stories, Perspectives From Peachtree Plantation; God's Breakfast Nook; Gentle Spiritual Visits; Lilly; An Unusual Beginning.
A guest author/presenter for Oklahoma's first Red Dirt Book Festival Oct. 17th/18th, 2003. Shawnee, Ok.; (sponsored by Oklahoma Baptist University/St Gregory U./ Ok. Arts/Humanities Council, Pioneer Library Systems and Ok. First lady, Kim Henry.)
Wrote and presented new standards and codes petition for Livestock Guardian Dogs presented to the Oklahoma Sec. of Agriculture, Terry Peach and to Janet Steward, the Director of Legal Services for the Ok. Ag. Dept., on Jan. 23, 2004 – possible legislation authored by Ray McCarter and Don Armes on this document in 2005
Guest author/speaker at the Chisholm Trail Museum's Western Writer's Round-Up, Waurika, OK.; 04-05-06-07
Asst. Judge of poetry for 4 counties for the Sr. Citizen's poetry contest sponsored by ASGOG, Feb. 17,
Short Story published by Spring Hill Review Remember Me
2004 Honorable Mention for short story, The Importance of Blank Spaces, Kansas Writers Association. Printed in their 2005 Anthology
The Drifters: A Christian Historical Novel about the Melungeon Shanty Boat People historical fiction; (based on facts from self-published book) concerning an old cultural diversity, January 2005 Publishing date; Release in Nov. of 2004 by Marquette Books, Spokane, WA. copyright purchased and changed in my name 2006
Who's Who for Women in the World, 2005-2006
2006-2007; 2007-2008 Who's Who for Women in America;
Speaking programs/signings in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas to genealogical, historical societies, book clubs, and civic clubs on the hidden cultural diversity revealed in my novel, The Drifters (movie production interests)
God's Breakfast Nook: An Anthology Of Americana Nonfiction Short Stories, release date- June, 2005; publisher; Marquette Books, Spokane
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness: A Portrait of Christ; Bible Study book; Co-authored with Frank L. Barnes. Released by Publish America, April 2006
Displaced Cherokee: Come Home, Come Home republished 2007 Higginson Book Co.
Who Wants t Be A Wool Spinner?; how-to ms.; wool processing/spinning
No Soft Place to Fall Narrative Nonfiction manuscript – Religion/Christian
A Part of the Pioneers: Making and Spinning Yarn Appalachian Country Magazine Dec./Jan. 2009, Jodi Williams Pub/Ed.
36x48 Historical painting taken from Alice Snearly's glass negative, “Beef Time” lifetime loan at the Asbury Complex in Comanche, OK
Developed and put into place plans for a first time Book Festival including authors/publishers/ illustrators held March 29th, 2008 in Comanche, OK; Border Queen Book Festival at the Asbury Complex. 2nd book festival date 3/7/09 at the Asbury Complex in Comanche, OK.
Oct. 24, 2009, Directed 3rd Book Festival, Simmons Center, Duncan, OK
89 Authors from 7 different states registered for the Friday night Author Reception at the Hampton Inn and Book Festival in the beautiful civic center.
Since moving to Snyder, TX in May of 2010, we have restored an old landmark house that originated about 100 years ago, with updates since then.
I have 14 published books most of which may be seen on Amazon and I have been the publishing coordinator for authors for approximately 50 books in the last 4 years.
A large Portrait done of Quanah Parker for the Scurry Co. Historical Soc., Inc. which hangs on loan in the Scurry Co. Court House until the Downtown Old Jail is restored.
Solo Art Show . “Bits and Pieces,” Dec. 1st-Jan. 10th at the Scurry Co. Museum (79 paintings)
Second Painting of Quanah Parker unveiled at the Scurry County Court House.
Invitation for a solo art showing at the Breckenridge, TX Art Center set for March 19- May 3rd, 2019 , Titled: The History of the Common Man. A mixture of limited palette (sepia) and full color will be seen in their largest gallery (2500 sq. ft.)
2018- Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who's Who in America
2019- Accepted in Breckenridge 28th Annual Juried Fine Art Exhibit
