Celebrating A Living Legend
September 14, 2006
In five decades of capturing
the nation's most eminent leaders in paint, portraitist
Everett Raymond Kinstler has become a leader of his
own craft.
Although he recently turned 80,
Kinstler maintains the vigorous schedule of a man
half his age. In addition to dividing his time between
his Easton and Manhattan home studios, he travels
extensively lecturing, teaching and painting.
Five presidents have posed for
him: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George
H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. His works of Ford and
Reagan are the official White House portraits.
Kinstler will present "Sixty
Years in Sixty Minutes," a slideshow retrospective
at the Mark Twain Library in Redding Sept. 24 at 4
p.m.
He is the latest luminary to
be featured in the library's Hermes Art Series, established
by Redding philanthropists Allen and Helen Hermes.
Allen Hermes, who died in 2004, was a noted sculptor.
His wife, a former journalist, still works to preserve
the town's culture and environment.
"We are so fortunate to
have such a treasure in our midst," said Jennifer
Wastrom, a member of the Hermes Art Series.
The discussion will be followed
by a book signing during which Kinstler will sign
copies of "The Artist's Journey through Popular
Culture" and "A Brush with History."
In addition to presidents, Kinstler
has also brought many well-known personalities to
the canvas, including Katharine Hepburn, Peter O'
Toole, Paul Newman, James Cagney, Jason Robards, Tony
Bennett, Carol Burnett, Gene Hackman, Gregory Peck
and John Wayne.
Author Tom Wolfe and vocalist
Tony Bennett, an old classmate, are among his closest
friends.
Still, Kinstler is dedicated
to maintaining a down-to-earth lifestyle. In addition
to his wife, Peggy, he has his three golden Labrador
retrievers: Norman, Jack and Wyatt to keep him busy.
A native of Manhattan, Kinstler's
only extended education was at New York's Music and
Art High School and later the High School of Industrial
Arts. At 16, he left to study at the prestigious Art
Students League and begin his professional career
inking comic books.
"Unlike his illustrious
predecessors, Kinstler did not study in Europe,"
said Andrew Phelan, director of the University of
Oklahoma's School of Art. "His education was
knitted together in a personal way, and his career
has evolved in the same idiosyncratic fashion."
Kinstler attributed much of his
artistic success to his parents.
"I was fortunate to have
the support of my family, particularly my father,"
he said.
One of his early portraits was
of James Montgomery Flagg in 1956. Flagg, best known
for his role as Uncle Sam in the World War II recruiting
poster, "I Want You for the U.S. Army,"
was one of Kinstler's earliest mentors through the
league. Kinstler also studied with the eminent painter
Frank Vincent DuMond.
"I was lucky to be able
to do what I have," he said. His favorite subjects
included Cagney and Hepburn.
Cagney was "terribly genial,"
Kinstler said. Hepburn was as imperious as her reputation.
Both actors served as inspiration
for lithograph portraits Kinstler sold to benefit
the then financially burdened Players Club of New
York City.
Founded in 1888 by actor Edwin
Booth (brother of President Abraham Lincoln's assassin,
John Wilkes Booth), the Players Club was established
to provide a place for intellectual and artistic discourse.
"Each lithograph was signed
by the subject," Kinstler said. "When we
brought the lithographs to Hepburn, she was appalled
we expected her to use a red pen to sign her name."
When Kinstler asked her why,
Hepburn replied, "Well, if I sign in red no one
will be able to see the Kinstler name."
Kinstler had warm words for virtually
all of his hundreds of subjects. These have included
authors Elie Wiesel and Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
and playwrights Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller,
in addition to presidents and actors.
Kinstler has also done portraits
of several Miss America winners, including Vanessa
Williams, and First Ladies Betty Ford and Lady Bird
Johnson.
More recently, he has done portraits
of Donald Trump and currently is painting the portrait
of former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Kinstler
described Giuliani as "incredibly warm and gregarious."
Next up is a portrait of former presidential candidate,
U.S. Sen. Robert Dole.
Kinstler first photographs
his subjects then invites them to return to his studio
for subsequent painting sessions. Although Kinstler
has frequently done portraits within hours-long demonstrations,
it typically takes weeks for a portrait to be completed,
he said.
Celebrating
A Living Legend
