To Feature Resident Artist Frances O'Farrell
- by Peggy Perry -
An exceptional event, the unveiling of a dramatic painting entitled "The Sorrows of War," will be a campus highlight in January. Sponsored by the UVTO Art Guild, renowned portrait painter Frances O'Farrell will present an exhibit of her paintings, culminated by the dramatic presentation of the symbolism of this new masterpiece. This show will be open to all UVTO residents in Catalina Hall on January 25 at 3:00 p.m.
Frances never really decided whether she wanted to become an actress or an artist; she was fortunate to do both. Much like a sculptor "releasing" a statue from within a block of marble, Frances describes her approach: seated before a fresh canvas, she confronts it in meditation and prayer, becoming one with what she wants to present. Her verbal explanation of the final product is theatrically expressive, an intense experience for her listener/observer.
Working in colorful impressionistic and romantic realism styles, she has always preferred portraiture because of her love of people. Having studied with some of the finest portrait artists in the country, Frances has portrayed numerous people in the San Fernando Valley. During this time she maintained her own studio and also taught. For more than twenty years, she depicted the annual winners of the Fernando Awards, honoring those who were local, eminent philanthropists in the area. Here she is seen at the unveiling of her portrait of Don Lorenzen.
Frances painted Norman Vincent Peale's wife as "Woman of the Year," which led to doing a portrait of Betty Ford when she was in the White House, again for the "Woman of the Year" award. Next she was commissioned to paint Queen Elizabeth for the Reagans' 25th wedding anniversary. The Queen was scheduled for a sitting at Frances' studio, then in Port Hueneme, but a storm prevented the Royal yacht, Brittania, from docking there. Instead, hundreds of photos were sent to Frances. The finished portrait was presented at the British Consulate and forwarded to Buckingham Palace, where it is now in the Queen's private collection. One of Frances' final paintings was of Elizabeth Pitcairn, the concertmaster of the New West Symphony – a full length portrait which included Ms. Pitcairn's $4,000,000 Stradivarius violin.
Here at UVTO, Frances and her husband, Jack Darnielle, have made their home a virtual museum of her work. This art show and the presentation of "The Sorrows of War" are a true gift to their neighbors, a unique opportunity to view this artist's latest work.