A Walk on the Beach: Celebrating the Life of Irene Nadolny Evans 1947-2024
Irene and I met at kindergarten orientation, as we sent our babies off to school. We made an instant connection, and only later learned that my grandfather helped to facilitate her family’s emigration to the US after WWII. Our daughters bonded as well, spending many hours in each others’ company and each others’ homes.
Irene was blessed to be surrounded by her husband Jack, and daughters Lori, Jeannie, and Tammy as she took her last breath, outside in dappled shade, blue sky and sunshine welcoming her spirit to a pain free afterlife.
Every part of this painting references the life and family of a remarkable woman, my dearest friend, Irene.
Elizabeth in London
Elizabeth Hauser 2024. A high school graduation trip with her parents.
Lauren & Buddy
Lauren Hauser, 16th birthday 2024
War & Peace and Dr. Pepper, Gray
Fort Riley, Kansas after Ed’s return from Vietnam, nights spent playing cards in sparse military housing. Painted from a 1972 photo
Elizabeth’s World
After the Wyeth painting, Christina’s World. 2022 Waiting our turn at an estate sale in Montclair, NJ, Elizabeth looks longingly at the run down mansion.
Rebecca at the Window
Borrowing from Dali’s Girl at the Window, our daughter watches her sons play in the backyard pool. 2022
All That Jazz, Gray
YSU painting classmate, Kate Bernard 2004
Shelf Life 2014
Alice Habuda Bort, surrounded by memories. Painted for her 90th birthday. Although my parents traveled extensively on volunteer projects around the world, my mom’s favorite place was home with her cats, birds, family, and memories.
Little White House
On a visit from her life in Ireland, Elizabeth spent hours reading in her childhood home. On the wall is a poem, Little White House, that she wrote and cross stitched for our 30th anniversary. 2005
Lost in Thought 2012
When my former college professor developed dementia, he attended art therapy classes at the nursing home. Although Nab didn’t always remember me (or his family), he always remembered how to make art.
Gray
Sisters
Rebecca and Elizabeth Gray, dressup. Painted from a 1982 photo.
Milestones
Elizabeth Gray 2023
Before settling down with husband and children, our golden girl traveled the world. She attended universities in America, France, and Ireland, earning two bachelors, a masters, and a doctoral degree. The necklace, with the birthstones of their children, was a gift from her husband.
Miles Bavuso
Painted for Miles’ high school graduation 2021
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Education Suzie: puttings things into perspective 2004
Finally graduating college after 36 years of fits and starts, this piece honors the instructors most influential in my BFA. Mike Mosley, Mike Wolushis, Al Bright (teacher/mentor/friend), Jon Naberezny, Lou Zona… and my husband, Ed, who put up with my educational indecisions through the years.
Daddy’s Arms
Shawn Lawless and daughter Tara
Mona Lisa of the Library
As a student, Mona traveled to Kenya for her junior year abroad. Her host family christened her Mona Lisa and when she returned to the states, she legally changed her name. We met at her place of employment… the public library.
Everything’s Legal in New Jersey 2022
A birthday trip to attend a Broadway show ended sharing a joint with my daughters on the NJ back deck.
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Peace in the Time of Covid 2020
Self portrait via a Zoom painting class during the pandemic.
Inside the Insight
During a particularly fraught period, frantic strokes on a repurposed canvas relay the struggles to make sense of life.
Outside the Insight 2004
Companion piece to Inside the Insight.
Color study
Class example teaching students that portrait painting can push past realism.
Diane Rogul Gray
Continuing in the style of Modigliani
Gray
Rebecca
Influenced by Modigliani
Elizabeth
In the style of Modigliani
Self-Portrait
In the style of Modigliani
The Thinker
In her doctoral program, Elizabeth Gray worked in the physics department of Trinity College, Dublin. As one of few women in the department, she was often asked to get the coffee and take meeting notes.
Our Life
Married 59 years, Myron and Alice Bort spent many evenings on the backyard swing. 2002
Myron Bort 2002
One of my first portraits after returning to YSU to finish a fine arts degree. My dad, who was instrumental in urging that return, died shortly after.
Homemaker’s Dilemma; years of waxy buildup
Alice Habuda Bort, surrounded by her husband, children and grandchildren. Mixed media encaustic
The Bee Keeper
Rich Bort tending his bees.
Complex Shades of Gray
Painted for Edward Gray’s 30th birthday. 2004
Nicole Murray 2023
As Program Director at the Davis Family YMCA, Nikki was my boss for many years. She allowed me the freedom to develop and run the art program in a creative, often unstructured way. She became, in many ways, like a daughter to me.
Sandra Ciminero
Quick study of a life long classmate and friend.
Lost Flower 1
First panel in a series of women who were counciled to know their place.
Ephemereality
Portrait of Edward Gray on repurposed canvas.
Self Portrait
oil on reclaimed canvas
Fractured Flash of Clarity
Anguished therapy. Featured in a British publication of 100 distinctive self portraits.
Verdigris
A portrait of Edward Gray, modeled as a stoic copper statue.
Study in Three Colors
Quick study during a portrait class demonstration 2016
Sea Saw
Portrait of Edward Gray using a fury of rough short strokes.
Fire and Rain
Painted specifically for an outdoor art and jazz installation in Sharon, PA.
Closer Inspection
YSU painting classmate, Trish Blackman 2004
Evermore
Loosely based on Gauguin’s Nevermore, painted in college class. Rebecca awaits birth of her first child, our first grandchild, while her sister and I wait in the wings.
During critique my instructor said, “you did a nice job on the toes.”
Still Alice
Painted for my sister’s 70th birthday, referencing Modigliani, Matisse, Picasso, and van Gogh.
Mirror Image
Closeup of panel 3, Still Alice
Juggled: a Gray family portrait
Veering away from my more comfortable realistic approach to portraits, this painting encapsulates my view of our nuclear family. The balls represent our three children, with inner circles as their spouses and children. My parents and siblings reach upward from my mind while my husband’s siblings connect horizontally from his eyes. As the patriarch of our family, Ed holds our hearts in his hand.
Mother and Daughters 2016
My sister, mother, and I enjoyed many girls’ vacations throughout the years, with Akumal, Mexico our favorite destination. After our mom passed away, Mothers and Daughters commemorated our times together. Mom is the thin white profile sandwiched between us. My hand sprinkles some of her ashes into the waiting hand of my sister. We make stone stacks and spread her ashes wherever we travel. The circular breasts represent motherhood, with our daughters and sisters-in-law deciding what images would depict each.
Nature plays a big role in who we are as mothers, as family, as women, as curators of life. Alice and I translated this painting to a wall in Akumal, Mexico during the first Akumal Arts Festival (100 artists from around the world painted murals throughout the tiny town}.
Bort Gray
Hillbilly Gothic
After our east coast children’s visits, we stood in the driveway bidding them goodbye. Ed is not amused by the number of tears I always shed. 2009
Lost in Translation
Painted for our son’s 30th birthday. The message, written in a language he understands, reads “Happy Birthday, we love you.” 2004
45th and E
Painted for our son Edward’s 45th birthday.
Bud Bort, Kielbasa King 2021
Using a reference provided by his widow, I painted this as a gift to her. After his time in the Navy, my brother Bud returned home to work at the family meat packing plant. Even after moving on to another job, he continued to make the famous Bort’s Kielbasa every Christmas and Easter.
The day before a celebration of life gathering, Bud’s children and grandchildren gathered to make 50# of kielbasa using the old family recipe. Everyone who attended left with a tasty remembrance of a remarkable man.
Bort Gray
Jimmy Gray 2015
Not long after we visited Ed’s brother in Florida, Jimmy died of pancreatic cancer. His ashes were returned to Ohio where celebration of life was held
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Not prone to artistic endeavors, my husband none the less took up a brush to add some strokes to his little brother’s portrait.
In the Studio
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