Some of my time is spent painting "Houscapes" portraits of private homes. A few years ago a woman came to my studio tour and she asked me to paint her home. She lives in Malibu in a gypsy wagon and a tent with her two dogs. This was not just any old gypsy wagon, this is one that was used in the original "Dr. Dolittle" movie starring Rex Harrison. It came from England, when the movie rapped and it was no longer needed a family brought it to their property out in Malibu and felt it was worth saving. The lady I did the painting for has been living in this wagon for 25+ years. She is an amazing person, living simply, she works with Martin Sheen and has been arrested over 100 times for protesting nuclear armaments to help "save" the planet. The area she lives in is absolute paradise. Bob Dylan lives next door and he has a gypsy wagon too. I loved painting this for her and it was a way to "save" the memories and to commemorate the anniversary of her 25 years living there. As a young girl I read all of Hugh Lofting's books and they always transported me to a wonderful place. This is my submission for Illustration Friday's "Save" theme.
Today the greeting cards arrived from Modern Postcard for the lady that lives in the Gypsy wagon! Once a year I participate in a show called Topanga Art Studio Tours. About 45-50 artists that live here open up there studios and let the public come view, talk and have refreshments. It starts at the local gallery , each artist hangs a painting and for $25.00 you buy a book that has the artists name and blurb about their work , bio, written directions and a map of Topanga. It is a 2 day event so if you choose to view all the studios, you have a couple days to squeeze them in. It is the perfect venue for me, I am a bit reclusive and all the people come to me! So this wonderful woman came to my studio, admired the "Houscapes" and asked me to paint her home. Rat and I drove to her place (Paradise, i'm not kidding it really seemed to be what heaven must be like) and there was her home. A 150 year old gypsywagon from England. It was shipped here years ago to be used in the original Dr. Doolittle movie starring Rex Harrison! When the movie studio wanted to be rid of the wagon it was sold and moved to the beach and gypsylady moved in. I did this painting of it and it hangs in her office. She is an amazing person, an activist against nuclear armaments (she has been arrested over 100 times) she lives very simply, she has a very nice tent as well and her 2 dogs. She assists a very well known movie and television actor that is an activist also. I would love to tell you all the particulars because all of the people that are in her orbit are majorly interesting but I want to protect her privacy. She has lived in the wagon for 25 years! This greeting card is to comemorate the 25th anniversary of her life in this wagon. It was a highlight for me to paint and Rat loved being there and walking on the beach and around her neighborhood. The greeting card came out great, I'm pleased with it and I hope she loves it as much as she loves the painting. copyright 2004 may not be reproduced
