Two artists blotted out by light

Squeak Carnwath asked if they could dim the lights, and the answer from the cameraman was No.

It didn’t look this bright to the audience, but you can see the glare the two artists endured

At the bottom is my sketch of Staprans’ face, otherwise blotted out by light

Written last night:

Dear Friends,

Today I heard Squeak (Yes, that’s her name!) Carnwath, an important Bay-area artist,*  interview the even more important Bay-area artist Raimonds Staprans, whose work is on exhibit at the Crocker Museum here.  He’s in his early 90s. Earlier today I asked Patrice what she’d like me to ask him if I got a chance, and she said, “I want to know what things interest and excite Staprans today. Why does he want to get out of bed each day?” From the moment he began to talk you could see that he is so wrapped up in making art  — every part of his demeanor showed he delights in painting — that I had no need to ask the question. 

“I am the most happy person when I am painting,” he said. (He  also referred lovingly to his wife throughout his talk.)

Love,

k

Raimonds Staprans

* If you live in South Florida you can see Carnwath's work nearby. My Google search shows Carnwath is among the artists in the exhibit Women Painting at Miami-Dade Community College Kendall Campus until Sept. 29.