Emile F. Henriquez (1937–) Biography

Born 1937, in New Orleans, LA; Education: Attended John McCrady Art School, 1955–60, and Tulane University, 1966–68. Religion: Roman Catholic. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, exercise, collections, reading, drawing.

Career

Illustrator and graphic artist. Boeing Company, New Orleans, LA, graphic illustrator, 1963–74; Schwegmann's Supermarkets, New Orleans, newspaper advertisement coordinator and graphic artist, 1974; Textron Marine and Land Systems, New Orleans, graphic illustrator, 1974–81, chief illustrator, 1981–85, design coordinator, 1985–95; freelance illustrator, 1995–. Military service: Louisiana National Guard, 1955–63; became sergeant E5.

Member

Slidell (LA) Art League.

Honors Awards

First-place award in drawing and watercolor, Slidell Art League, 1971.

Illustrator

(With Lucien C. Barbarin) Denise W. McConduit, D.J. and the Zulu Parade, Pelican (Gretna, LA), 1995.

Denise Walter McConduit, D.J. and the Jazz Fest, Pelican (Gretna, LA), 1997.

Denise Walter McConduit, D.J. and the Debutante Ball, Pelican (Gretna, LA), 2004.

Freddi Williams Evans, The Battle of New Orleans: The Drummer's Story, Pelican (Gretna, LA), 2005.

Sidelights

New Orleans-based graphic artist and illustrator Emile F. Henriquez has contributed his artistic talents to several books for younger readers, including The Battle of New Orleans: The Drummer's Story, by Freddi Williams Evans. A rhyming tale for budding readers, the story focuses on the U.S. troops fighting under General Andrew Jackson against the British during the War of 1812. Henriquez creates illustrations that are "realistic" according to School Library Journal critic Judith Constantinides, and he depicts the Cajun, German, French, Spanish, and Native American men who have all united under General Jackson to defend their home city.

Henriquez recognized his passion for art and drawing at a young age. "I can remember drawing all my life," the illustrator once recalled to SATA. "I used comic books for reference until high school, when I was designated my school's official artist. I studied under John McCrady, an excellent regionalist painter of the ash can school. I studied at Tulane University much later. For thirty years I worked as a commercial artist and moonlighted for extra money and experience. I designed truck floats for the Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans and won many awards for them. Some of the commercial techniques and methods I employ were learned in the street and are not taught at most schools. Today, I freelance from a home studio, working on a diversified range of art projects, from calligraphy to graphic design to fine art."