Elizabeth Starnes

Watercolor Portraits

 

 

Elizabeth Starnes, a New York native, has made West Texas her home where she has earned a name as one of the premier portrait artists in Texas.  She is widely recognized as a gifted artist whose portrait paintings capture the emotional essence and character of her subjects.  Starnes images are realistic and lifelike and her work with watercolors is especially impressive.  Her technique of layering transparent glazes results in deep, rich colored paintings that immediately draw the eye of anyone in its presence. 

Starnes has been referred to as a “soul reader”, where her work spiritually connects with her subjects, capturing soulful expressions that tell the story of a captured moment in time.  Each portrait tells an endless story of life and human drama.

 

 

 

Maria de Agreda, also known as the “Lady in Blue”, was born and died in Agreda, Spain and entered the convent life at the age of 15.   She is credited for contributing to the evangelization of the Jumano Native Americans in the early 1600’s, native to the San Angelo area.  It has been cataloged that she supernaturally appeared to early tribes in the region before official evangelization missions had even begun.  In the 17^th Century, nuns were not allowed to leave the convent or travel overseas so it is believed that she bi-located.  Today, Jumano Native Americans gather with other tribes to honor the “Lady in Blue” annually in San Angelo.

In November 2010, I was asked by The Honorable Drew Darby to paint an ornament for the Texas House of Representatives Christmas tree which would represents District 72.  I chose to Maria de Agreda.  To read more about her, go to Wikipedia.