Henry has received considerable attention while pursuing a path in the arts that's seldom traveled by artists of his caliber. With innate ability, he honed his skills as an artist early on, creating canvas paintings, poster illustrations, greeting cards, murals and drawings -- all with a master's touch, which many look upon with admiration and discuss in social circles as conversation pieces.

     With careful attention to the minutest detail, the artist has captured the likeness of judges, lawyers, politicians, ministers, entertainers, actors and the so-called "John Q. Public." He has reached the apex in a career that spans 30-plus years and keeps making inroads in the art community. And his artwork, which is loved, admired, appreciated and collected by patrons locally and nationally, can be found in the annals of local and state governments, newspapers, magazines, and other publications.

     Henry is reputed to be the quintessential artist whose reputation precedes him. With roots deeply implanted in the rich soil of Memphis' artistic community, where the blues is king and Memphis barbecue is supreme, Henry has cultivated a style of painting -- contemporary realism -- utilizing a traditional approach that today's artists tend to shy away from. What separates the artist from his peers is his uncanny ability to capture the human spirit -- or the essence of his subject. His work, therefore, takes on a life of its own and beckons the viewer for a close observation of humanity in two-dimensional form. 

     The artist has carved out a niche for himself in the art world -- the result of years of formal training coupled with an innate ability to grasp the intricacies of fundamental design: space, form, line, shape, color, texture and balance. The final product is a luminous work of art that showcases the artist's skills. 

     Henry's early recollection as a budding artist began when he was in grade school. He recalls doodling and helping his teacher decorate the bulletin board and drawing comic book characters with painstaking accuracy. He also recalls capturing a reasonable facsimile of his great grandmother and others in pencil. Before graduating high school, the artist won a merit scholarship to attend the Memphis College of Art. He graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Advertising Design and focused thereafter on the art of painting.

     Although Henry has added a number of commissions to his repertoire, the public first began taking notice of the artist's skill set via television, radio and print media. He has been interviewed a number of times on morning talk shows, news segments, radio, and has appeared in a number of newspapers locally and nationally. Art distributors in Maryland and Texas had also marketed his fine art prints. 

    While carving out a name for himself as an artist, Henry was budding as a writer and journalist as well. While churning out paintings and drawings, he was perfecting the art of writing. The Tri-State Defender, the oldest African-American newspaper in the Mid-South, hired Henry as an artist and layout specialist in the mid-1980s. He would go on to ascend higher heights as production manager, reporter, interim editor, deputy editor, senior writer and assistant to the executive editor.   

    During his tenure at the newspaper, Henry excelled as an award-winning journalist. He won first place in a couple of national journalism competitions and was a finalist in one of the national competitions for three consecutive years. He also won several local journalism competitions, placing either first, second or third.

     The TSD has published the paper for more than a half century. With Henry as the lead writer, he won more journalism awards than any other reporter in the newspaper's history. Because of his accomplishments, the Tennessee General Assembly, the Shelby County Commission and the Memphis City Council cited the noted artist -- and now noted writer -- for his accomplishments in art and journalism.

    While Henry is continually sought as an artist, he is just as much in demand as a writer. He's written more than 1,000 articles for the newspaper and other publications. The artist and writer also landed a gig at The Carter Malone Group as a senior account services specialist and senior writer. CMG is a public relations, marketing and advertising firm headed by its president and CEO, Deidre Malone, a two-term Shelby County commissioner and mayoral candidate.

     Writing is second nature to Henry. He is just as comfortable with the written word as he is with a paint brush in hand and a canvas to work on. Though Henry divides his time between painting and writing, he continues to receive accolades for both. His clients call upon him for both art and writing, and he graciously wears the title of artist and writer very well.

     Glynn Johns Reed, founder of the Juneteenth Freedom & Heritage Festival in Memphis, tapped Henry as the official poster artist for the annual celebration. She also tapped him to serve as editor of the quarterly Black Pages New Orleans, a guide to African-American businesses. 

    While achieving success as an artist and writer, Henry has become proficient at photography as well. He has been called upon to photograph weddings, church services, rallies, social gatherings and political events. He has been the personal photographer for various individuals, including seasoned politicians and political newcomers.

    How does Henry achieve so much for a man who first started doodling at an early age? "When I was a boy trying to find myself, I discovered there was nothing I couldn't do," says Henry. "If my heart is in it, and if I'm being led by the Holy Spirit, I can achieve what my heart desires and become just as proficient. For me, failure is not an option."  

     Henry is currently in the studio working on his next work of art. He also has been asked to write the memoirs of two successful businessmen and other writing and editing projects as well.