Bob Snider's Story:

Bob Snider with
his watercolor
 "Arkansas Tulips"

My story as an artist started back in college when I was the only art major on a football scholarship! But knew I would starve to death trying to make a living as an artist. So I got an MBA and launched a twenty five year career in Investment Banking. In 1995, I took a beginning watercolor class and immediately fell in love with the painting process. My first paintings were accepted into the annual Juried art exhibit of the MidSouthern Watercolorist Society and it seemed that my interest and success in art was flourishing.

"All the Days of Her Life"
Bob's portrait of Miz Kitty Longstreth "23rd Psalm" 2005 Arts Festival

In 2001, Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock started thinking about an arts festival and I was asked to begin a planning process. It took several years to launch, but our first arts festival was in 2005 and based on The 23rd Psalm. As Chairman of that first arts festival, I learned a lot about the process. The 2006 festival, based on Genesis 1-3 was an even bigger success spiritually, organizationally, artistically and financially.

"Shadows from the Garden"
Bob's portrait of
Miz Kitty Longstreth
"Beginnings…Genesis 1-3"
2006 Arts Festival

Being both an investment banker and a professional artist is a little unusual, but I believe that God has used those experiences to uniquely qualify me to work with churches to lead them in the planning and implementation of their own arts festival. This calling was confirmed to me through a Kingdom Builders group led by Bill Wellons that I met with for a year. God has just richly poured out blessings on these arts festivals, and upon me personally as an artist. In 2005 I was nominated for Artist of the Year in Arkansas by the American Heart Association, was asked to be President Elect of the MidSouthern Watercolorist Society and accepted as a signature member of that group. For four years I have served as Chairman of the American Heart Association's Art Committee. These recognitions were the result of God's plan to use me in His outreach to artists. It has been a completely joyful experience for me. The passion He has created in me for art and artists is catching fire wherever this vision is presented.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  www.MustardTreeArts.com  |  www.BobSniderWatercolors.com