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newsworthyDIANE FINDLEY |
| Scene Magazine
- June 2008 Art Trek: Paint My Face – Fort Collins Portrait Painters By MAGGIE KUNTZ We have in our fair city such a plethora of fabulous artists that it makes my job so much fun, and I find it very easy to bring to you some exceptional people that you might not have had a chance to meet. For this Art Trek, I want to introduce you to the Fort Collins Portrait Painters – a rag tag team of local artists who have been meeting and painting for the last 14 or so years. The Portrait Painters are the brainchild of hometown favorites Sam Theives and Bob Coonts. Initially it was meant to be a study for serious artists who wanted to study the human face from live models. They made an arrangement with Lloyds Art Center (216 N College) to use their back room to house this bunch who just wanted to paint people! To this day they still meet at Lloyds, and they have found camaraderie in their quest to perfect their craft. Diane Findley is a great friend of mine and one of the most talented and funniest people I have met. She started painting with the group 12 years ago and has become the “music maker.” Diane brings the music to each session and loves to stretch everyone with renditions of disco to who knows what. Her husband Tommy comes up with fabulous mixed tapes that I adore. When she first came to the group, it was quiet and a bit stodgy, so she decided to put a bit of ‘funk’ into their sessions. The philosophy behind the Portrait Painters’ concept is that it really does not matter what skill level you come with, but rather what you can bring to the group – it’s all about your personality. They are a bit picky in who gets to participate: they want to keep a good man/woman balance. The result is a great mix of artists who range from beginning skills to professionals. When it comes to models, they used to get whomever they could find to sit for two hours. Waitresses, grocery clerks and family members were ‘persuaded’ to sit pretty for $20. Very soon, the “modeling job” became some sort of ‘Who’s Who” in our fair city. The bank at the corner of Mountain and College, Cash Bank and Trust, became the display window for all the new portraits that Diane painted. People soon loved to come by the bank and guess, “Who is that pretty person in the window?” Diane has great stories of our local ‘famous’ folk who have modeled for this group. I must tell you of a couple of local ‘celeb’ stories. Tom Sutherland who was one of the hostages held in Iran for 6½ years and is one of the most endearing men I have met. He told the group a joke: “What do Scottish men really have under their skirts? Answer: It’s Gruesome…or It Grew Some…” Sorry, I can see Tom telling that joke and it cracks me up. Diane asked Tom if it was ok for him to sit on the stage for 20-30 minutes at a time while they painted and he replied: “I have been chained to a wall for 6 1/2 years, I think I can handle it!” Or Sonny Lubick coming in to sit for his portrait in a CSU t-shirt and at break time walking around and patting everyone on the back saying “Good Job.” Once a coach, always a coach! So if you have an extra hour and really want to have many artists create renditions of your many faces, which could become just the thing you would want to pass on to your kids, call and see if they can use you for a sitting. I know from personal experience that it is a HOOT! I have never sat still for that length of time for any reason, but I loved my experience. Plus I gotta admit, I love seeing my curly hair in wild blue, and I think I may have missed my life-long calling of being … what? My face being an icon? I know I will be famous… If not infamous… In your dreams Maggie! |
| 118 Trimble Court Fort Collins, Colorado 80524 970-221-0051 email us! Hours Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm Sun: Noon-5pm Extended Seasonal Hours MAP |
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