Sylvia Thompson Outland

Outland was born and raised in Lebanon, Ohio where her family were some of the earliest settlers, She was introduced to art and history at an early age by her mother and elementary school teachers. Those early influences set Outland on a life long path exploring the beauty of nature and local history. She was that child who always needed to know “why?”
 
Graduating from Lebanon High School, Outland credits Louise Stiles, Agnes Marts and Billie Runyan and Rosemary and Gene Chute for influencing her. She attended Miami University, Oxford and majored in Fine Art and Art Education. Additional coursework included: Business, Economics, Law, Real Estate and Interior Design.
 
Art became Outland's hobby over the years she worked in retail and business, but returned to creating again in 1996, studying with Elmer Ruff of Cincinnati. She retired from teaching at the Warren County JFS in 2014 and returned to volunteering with the Warren County Historical Society, at Harmon Museum, in the Art Curatorial and Conservation department in 2018.