The Artist Responsible for Illustrating Little Bill, Varnette Honeywood, Was An Honorary Member Of Delta Sigma Theta

Did you know that celebrated painter Varnette Honeywood was a member of Delta Sigma Theta? Honeywood, best known for co-creating the children’s series Little Bill, was inducted as an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Born in Los Angeles on December 27, 1950, Honeywood grew up in a close-knit family of educators. Her parents, Lovie and Stepney Honeywood, were elementary school teachers who had migrated from Mississippi and Louisiana, and they often tested their classroom art projects on Varnette and her older sister. Honeywood earned her Bachelor of Arts in art from Spelman College in 1972, then completed a Master of Science in education and her teaching credentials at the University of Southern California in 1974.

Her sister Stephanie, a linguist, writer, and poet, became a lifelong creative partner. In 1975, the two launched Black Lifestyles Fine Art, among the first to enter the Black-themed art and greeting-card business, with the goal of bringing positive images into as many Black homes as possible. Stephanie’s love of language later shaped Varnette’s text-driven illustration work, including the Little Bill books.

Honeywood’s work found a national stage when Bill and Camille Cosby discovered her cards. A reproduction of her 1974 painting “Birthday” and many of her pieces appeared throughout The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992, and her art later served as the backdrop for shows including A Different World, 227, Amen, and Golden Girls, as well as the films Bustin’ Loose and Beauty Shop.

During the 1990s, Honeywood illustrated the Little Bill book series and designed the characters for its animated adaptation, which she also consulted on. Airing on Nick Jr., the series earned a 2001 Peabody Award, a 2004 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Series, and a place on Oprah’s Book Club list. Spelman College awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts in 2005.

Honeywood passed on September 12, 2010, in Los Angeles at age 59 after a two-year battle with cancer. Through her brushwork, she empowered a generation and helped shape how the world saw Black life and culture.

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