Mother and daughter artists are now showing their work at the Raven House gallery. Lynne, the mother, and Rachel Beck are two of the newest artists there.
Rachel, the daughter, does close-up portraits of people using graphite pencil as her medium. Ive been drawing since I was eight years old, Rachel said. She drew mostly wildlife and still life in elementary school, and has tried her hand at drawing other subjects, such as horses.
But, I only discovered my talent for drawing people recently
in 2002. She draws the people in her portraits mostly from photos, but she has done a few from real life. Its difficult to get them to sit that long, she said.
She learned most of what she knows about drawing portraits from a police sketch artist that she knows. Other than a few pointers, Im mostly self-taught, said Rachel.
Its an excellent stress reliever for Rachel and she spends a lot of time drawing. Her mom, Lynne, said that even though Rachel can be a perfectionist about her drawing, it serves her well. She really has an amazing talent, said Lynne.
Lynne is a painter, and has been since 1991. We lived in a very remote area of northern Arizona at the time, and I bought a book about painting. I loved it and picked up some paints and canvas and started doing it, said Lynne. The book was by Bob Ross, the painter from PBS, and Lynne later saw him on television. She loved doing outdoor scenes, and entered her work in various festivals and art shows in Indiana and Tennessee. She also likes to paint on surfaces such as cast iron and old farm implements.
Oils and acrylics are a forgiving medium, said Lynne. If you make a mistake, you can paint over it, or scrape it off
, she said.
Lynnes paintings are mostly landscapes, but she also does wildlife, old buildings, barns and local scenery.
I never cease to be inspired. There is just so much to paint, she said. I can look at something and want to paint it!
Lynne has many ideas in her head and someday hopes to be able to paint everything she wants to. I want my paintings to take people where theyve never been before, she said. Many of the places she paints have stirred her soul and she wants to share it with as many other people as she can.
Rachels inspiration for drawing portraits is her love of history and the photos and stories that she reads. She has an idea to start drawing military scenes, both present and past.
I want to give back something to those who have sacrificed for us, she said. The proceeds, she said, that she hopes to get from those drawings will be used in some way for the military and their families.
When she draws, its like something else takes over, and she is transported through her work. I think that comes from really enjoying what you do, she said.
Both mother and daughter share a common love for the old ways, antiques and old buildings, evident in their work. They both hope that their work gives people some escape, and that it speaks to them.
Rachel and Lynne have been in the Raven House Gallery for two months. They love living in Mancos.
