Wyoming Unveiling of 3 Gov Portraits
 

The unveiling of my portraits of the three living former Governors of Wyoming happened last Friday and I have posted some photos of the event.

Two posthumous governors portraits, painted by another artist, were also unveiled.

There were speeches by several Governors and Senators and then I was told it was my turn to make a speech. I didn't know I was supposed to do one, so I was completely unprepared to get up to the podium and talk to the audience.

I found out yesterday that I will be also painting at least two more Wyoming Governors portraits, all posthumous, some as far back as the 1890's. Those should be fun!

More photos
 

Here are the rest of the photos.

The first photo shows the current Governor and two Senators who organized the portrait project and the event.

The third Governor I painted is 95 years old and doesn't travel much. He lives at the opposite end of the state and was unable to attend.

This is where the event took place, at the State Capitol in Cheyenne.

I am most impressed. Also what a feather in the cap of the cause of professional woman artists.

Congratulations Michele. I know you've worked very hard for this and it's well deserved.

Michele,

A HUGE congratulations to you! It looks like a very elegant presentation, and to be unveiling three governors' portraits on one day is quite an accomplishment. They look terrific and the governors look as pleased as punch. ! I know you worked hard. Those 1890s portraits will be a lot of fun!

Congratulations Michele, the paintings look great. I'm looking forward to seeing more!

Michele, major congratulations to you- the paintings are wonderful and you have become a real powerhouse in this field. I am so proud to know you, my talented friend!

Congratulations on your tremendous success, Michele. It is so exciting to see your meteoric rise.
Any chance of you posting the portraits here with details so we can see?

Here's what the newspapers wrote about this portrait:

"When former Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer arrived for his official portrait sitting, he was carrying one of his best suits -- but he secretly hoped the artist would let him wear what he had on: his trademark vest, cowboy hat and bolo tie.

The artist, Michele Rushworth of Sammamish, Wash., was more than accommodating.

"I didn't want this to look like a portrait of a businessman from Connecticut, I wanted this to look like a Wyoming governor," said Rushworth, who insisted Geringer stay true to his western roots for the portrait.

"He came to the sitting in what I imagine as the perfect Wyoming governor attire," Rushworth added.

This governor was in office in the 1960's and is now 95 years old. The portrait sitting was done with him in his favorite living room chair. I had him looking off to the left, out a nearby window, to capture the feeling that he's "looking back" over his years in office. This gentleman was also a United States Senator. He doesn't travel much any more and so was not at the unveiling.

His grandson read a speech that he wrote though, which included this quote from Benjamin Franklin: "We must all hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately."

This governor was known for his trademark beige cowboy hat. He was also the United States Ambassador to Ireland after his time as governor, and at official functions in Ireland he would wear this hat, he said, so people would know he was the American.

Wow!!!

What eslse can I say?

Congrats. They are so beautiful.

Very big congratulations, Michele! Very impressive work and well deserved praise.
You

Beautifully done -- so much character in each!
Congratulations Michele!

ascending a height
 

Congratulation!

The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number "6" was thought to be of Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number "9" was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means "double." Also, as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify "forever", both are "Jiu Jiu," the Chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worth celebration. That's why ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.

The custom of ascending a height to avoid epidemics was passed down from long time ago. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called "Height Ascending Festival". The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower. Ancient literary figures have left many poems depicting the activity. Even today, people still swarm to famous or little known mountains on this day.

On this day, people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope progress in everything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for


the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower.

The Double Ninth Festival is also a time when chrysanthemum blooms. China boasts diversified species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times. So enjoying the flourishing chrysanthemum also becomes a key activity on this festival. Also, people will drink chrysanthemum wine. Women used to stick such a flower into their hair or hang its branches on windows or doors to avoid evilness.

In 1989, the Chinese government decided the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors' Day. Since then, all government units, organizations and streets communities will organize an autumn trip each year for those who have retired from their posts. At the waterside or on the mountains, the seniors will find themselves merged into nature. Younger generations will bring elder ones to suburban areas or send gifts to them on this day.

Congratulations, Michele ! What a feat, and very nice portraits, too. You've definitely got a distinguished personal style.

Thanks everybody!

Really? What is it? (I guess, like a fish surrounded by water and who therefore doesn't notice it, I'm so immersed in my painting that I can't see if it has a certain "look" or "style" the way others might be able to.)

Michelle, it's hard to put into words. Part of it has to do with a smoothness to the painting of the skin. Some of it has to do with a sort of translucent quality. Sorry I can't articulate it much better than that.

Michele, these are absolutely stunning and I congratulate you on your well deserved success!

I can't even pick a favorite, they are all so wonderful!