H. Dwayne Golden’s creative expressions flow from his love of people and faces. Born in Bedford, Ohio, he moved to Los Angeles at the age of 6. Always cherished by his family, he grew up infused with the love of the entire family and the adoration of his ever present “Grandma.” Missing his Ohio family nurtured within him a passion for sketching people and their faces. He spent summers with bunches of cousins running in the wide-open fields, filling up on blackberries, and catching “lightning bugs” in jars. He would return home every summer to Twinsburg until he was 15 years old.

Being of two worlds, possessing both a city and country sensibility, he developed a keen appreciation for studying people in their milieu as well as the social scenes in which they frequented.

Tired of coloring books, at the age of 7, he decided to step out and create his own drawings. He would run home every day after school and spend hours sketching and daydreaming. He enjoyed being one of the best art student’s in the class. As was the custom during his formative years, it was understood that he would “find a good job.” His art was pushed aside in the pursuit of financial stability. Absent a clear direction and mentorship, he could not see a stable future in art.

It was not until his senior year at Hamilton High School, that his art teacher would ask him to do her a favor and take an art class in his 1st semester in college. He agreed. That was the beginning of a journey to explore how he could make a living as an artist.

He majored in Graphic Design and was accepted into one of the most prestigious programs in the nation at California State University Long Beach (CSULB). He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design. He worked as a freelance graphic designer for a few years. During that time, not many opportunities for stable work existed in the field. The work was inconsistent- nothing upon which he could build a life and family- a lifelong desire that he held within his heart.

A fireman friend invited him to visit his station. That was it! He decided to pursue a career in the fire service. As a firefighter, he could meet his fundamental needs: to build the quality of financial stability which would enable him to amply provide for a family, to live in a community that was safe and exhibited pride of homeownership, maintain economic security, as well helping others. The desire to create remained in his heart. One day, while working, he saw a poster at the station. The Los Angeles Fire Department advertised the following. “We are looking for one of our personnel to design statues to be housed in front of the Firefighters Museum in Hollywood, California. These statues will commemorate our fallen firefighters.” He entered and won the contest.

He protected and served the citizens of Los Angeles for 33 years. He retired at the rank of Fire Captain II in 2016.

Once retired from the fire service, he directed all his energy to his painting as much as he could. He focused on portraiture and selected famous musicians and singers as his subjects. Another part of his collection is children. He relishes reminding us of the innocence and playful abandon children embody. He looks forward to sharing his gift with the world. He wants his work to be thoroughly enjoyed so that people will fill their homes with his art. He has completed several drawings and paintings for private collectors.