When Kenneth Miles Freeman was a mere six-year-old growing up in Chicago, his mother had already recognized his enthusiasm for and talent in art. One Saturday she took her wide eyed boy to the Art Institute of Chicago. Shortly thereafter he began art lessons. When he was eight he told his mother, "clear out the living room so I can have my studio." Ken commandeered the TV table for his palette and continues to use this same palette today. He announced that he would someday be a famous artist and that he would apprentice with Haddon Sundblom. Each year Stanford University granted one full scholarship to the art school of choice for the winner in each of five regions nationally. K.M. Freeman won every year among students from 10 states and chose to study at the American Academy of Art under the tutelage of Bill Mosby while in high school. He studied privately with Joseph DeSalvi and ultimately apprenticed with Haddon Sundblom. He graduated art college just one year after completing high school, then launched a 20-year successful career as an illustrator.