The School of Fine Arts Recognition Ceremony for graduating students is scheduled for Sunday, May 6, at 10:30 a.m. at Goggin Ice Arena on the Miami University-Oxford campus.

     The featured guest speaker at the event is Miami Alumnus, C.F. “Chris” Payne, ’76. Payne is an artist and illustrator whose artwork has graced the covers of Time Magazine, Readers Digest, SportsIllustrated, The New York Times Book Review and Sunday Magazine, MAD Magazine, der Spiegel, U.S. News and World Report, The Atlantic Monthly, Texas Monthly, Boys Life and more. He has been commissioned to paint countless politicians, authors and entertainers. He has illustrated ten children’s picture books, including The Remarkable Farkle McBride and Micawber, written by John Lithgow.

     His artwork has been exhibited at The Cincinnati Art Museum, The National Portrait Gallery, The Norman Rockwell Museum, The Society of Illustrators Museum of American Illustration, The Selby Gallery at Ringling College of Art and Design and numerous college and university galleries.

     Speaking of C.F. Payne’s time as a student at Miami, his former teacher Joe Cox said, “Chris Payne made me a better teacher. He loved being challenged and set the bar for the rest of the students. He made everyone around him work harder and had extremely high expectations.” Joe Cox was a graduate of Miami, who returned to Miami in 1971 to teach in the art department, where he taught graphic design, sculpture, painting, illustration, and drawing. He chaired the department for six years, and retired from Miami in May 2007 from the position of associate provost. Cox still keeps in touch with his former students, including Payne.

     The recognition ceremony is free and open to the public. For more information about the ceremony>>

To learn more about C.F. Payne, visit http://www.cfpayne.com/.