Mae West: Don Ruffin

Arizona artist Don Ruffin did a portrait of MAE WEST. Some of his artwork will be displayed on Saturday 2 May 2009.
• • Born in 1928 (according to AskArt.com), Don Ruffin became a nationally recognized painter during the 1970s. Among the portraits he did was that of Senator Barry Goldwater. The artist died at age 49 in 1977.
• • Don Ruffin was introduced to Mae West by a mutual acquaintance — —.psychic Richard Ireland. According to Mark Ireland, some of Don's canvases were "inspired by psychic experiences."

• • Anthony DeFrange also painted Mae West (1971) • •
• • The painter, who enjoyed giving psychic readings at parties, told his neighbor Tony DePrima that he would soon be a pallbearer for a close friend, remembered Mark Ireland. Curiously, a week later, Don Ruffin passed away and Tony DePrima carried his casket during the funeral.
• • The organizer of the Cinco de Mayo celebration coming up at West Valley Art Museum, Ms. Sheny Ruiz Milligan will bring along her private collection of paintings by the Phoenix artist. Sheny fondly recalled Don Ruffin's extraordinary portraits of actress Mae West, Barry Goldwater, and other notables. He also specialized in Southwestern scenes with a spiritual element.
• • Here's where the fun takes place this weekend: West Valley Art Museum, 17420 North Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, Arizona 85374.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/ ________ Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml Mae West
• • Photo:  Mae West, oil painting in 1971 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest 

Mae West: Long-Tailed Tricky

The news racks on 18 April 1969 held the new issue of Life Magazine with MAE WEST on the cover.
• • The intriguing composition revealed the 75-year-old actress in her mirrored bed, garbed in white satin, and - - in the foreground - - was the exotic black long-tailed Tricky, Mae's pet woolly monkey, who had joined her Hollywood household in Apartment 611 just two years before.
• • Mae was photographed for Life by the 63-year-old lensman Philippe Halsman, who was born in Latvia on 2 May 1906. Aided by his friend Albert Einstein, Halsman emigrated to the United States. A portrait he took of the scientist became a US postage stamp in 1966.
• • In 1942, Halsman began working with Life Magazine. His portrait of a model wearing a Lily Daché hat was his first of the many covers he would do for the prominent weekly.
• • On 25 June 1979, Halsman died in New York City.
• • It is unclear what became of the docile, very photogenic long-tailed Tricky.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1969 • •
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West: Abstract Expression

Many artists and illustrators drew MAE WEST. Perhaps the least admired painting of Mae was done by de Kooning, who died a decade ago in March 1997.
• • Born in Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Willem de Kooning [24 April 1904 – 19 March 1997] became known as an abstract expressionist. In 1964 he executed quite a peculiar item that was his version of MAE WEST. The 24" by 18" work was created with oil and charcoal on resin-coated paper.
• • Who would purchase such an oddity? In 1966, art collector Joseph H. Hirshhorn [1899-1981] bought it from de Kooning. Eventually, Hirshhorn donated "Mae West" - - along with other pieces - - to the Smithsonian Institution, where it now resides in the Hirshhorn building. That means you can come and see Mae in D.C.
• • After a life of alcoholism and various mental problems, in the 1980s de Kooning was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and a court declared him unfit to manage his estate, which was turned over to conservators. He died on 19 March 1997 a month before his 93rd birthday.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • Willem de Kooning • • 1964 • •
NYC
Mae West.