Jewell McFarland Lewis, Fresh Start center

Debra Jones · 10-23-2002, 07:30 PM

Long ago I started the posting about Jewell. She is a wonderful pillar of the community. Her donation of the Fresh Start Women's Resource Center in downtown Phoenix needed a suitable portrait and hoping to make my mark, I did it.

Her loves are the Superstition Mountains where her husband still farms cotton. She is an amazing woman. History is attracted to her. She was in NYC at the same time I was, stranded last September in the Waldorf-Astoria, and her husband actually saw the second plane fly into the tower. And that is only the latest chapter of her history.

The Fresh Start Center resides in her building. On October 4, with Mayor, Governor and family, they opened the doors.

Here is the final portrait. I will add a second posting of her with the family in front below.

Debra Jones · 10-23-2002, 07:32 PM

The whole clan at the dedication.

Lon Haverly · 11-23-2002, 01:24 AM

Good likeness and technique, Debra! You captured her interesting personality and sparkle.

Debra Jones · 11-23-2002, 01:49 AM

I very much appreciate that comment!

I had posted this elsewhere and a comment was made about making the model less lined and softer edged.

Jewell was a client for a while of mine and hurt her leg and with no hard feelings at all, was not making use of my day job services. I began the piece with her fresh in my mind and ONE old portrait photo to work from on a spec idea.

By the time of the dedication, she was being aided to get up and down and as you can tell from this photo, was looking a bit frail. Friends who had seen both in the interim did comment that she "never looked so good" and when she was finally unveiled, I think I agreed.

It is a first attempt at reputation making. I did not work the PR aspect well at all, and my lack of confidence from the start basically gained me a PUBLIC WALL, which is a good start, but not well used.

This is the only piece I have attempted with any sort of symbolic background or such in it.
The idea of formal portraiture is very daunting and my frail ego is not up to the task.
Originally I decided I had no muse, that commercial art (advertising) would be perfect for me. THEN after getting no joy at all from that I was out of it all for almost 20 years. NOW I have a muse and it is eating me up. What I need is a manager!

Did I digress???

I meant to say thanks for being so encouraging!

Debra Jones · 04-10-2003, 12:23 PM

Just yesterday my model for this portrait passed away. She was a real powerhouse of a presence in our state and a bit of history goes with her.

I post this because the only bit of good news was that the portrait is mentioned in the obituary. I find that heartwarming and makes me feel very good about my contribution.The story in the Arizona Republic.

Margaret Port · 04-11-2003, 08:01 AM

Debra,

One of the best aspects of this work is that you painted a vibrant, interesting and healthy lady, not a frail, ill, pale person, and as the family's memories of her fade a little over time, your image is the one that will prevail in their memories.

It is a good strong portrait. Congratulations!