* Early Years: He was a self-taught artist as a child, receiving early encouragement from his mother.
* Formal Training: Wood attended the University of Iowa and later studied in Chicago at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
* Influences: His early art was influenced by the landscapes and people of his hometown, which later informed his most iconic works.
Although he received formal training, his artistic journey began in Anamosa, where his love for art blossomed.