THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 8, 1994 TAG: 9409070173
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: COURTLAND LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
MARY SOUCEK does things in a big way 3 feet by 4 feet, to be exact.
Those are the sizes of the paintings she creates - portraits of well-known literary and artistic figures.
``People will have to stop and look at my work,'' says Soucek, whose work is on display through Oct. 15 at the Walter Cecil Rawls Library and Museum.
Among others you will see lifelike portraits of William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Norman Rockwell and Grandma Moses.
Why these celebrities?
``They're people I admire. There's an aura about people in the arts,'' says Soucek, who lives with her husband, Archie, a retired Navy captain, in Village at Wood's Edge in Franklin. ``I feel a kinship.''
Some of her earliest art work was sketching she did in some leatherbound books owned by her grandfather, Alvin Howard Sanders, who was an author.
``I ruined those books when I was a kid. I have no idea how long it took him to forgive me. He didn't leave me much money,'' said Soucek, whose mother, Alva Sanders, was a professional golfer.
The game did not interest Mary Soucek.
``Anytime I have for anything,'' she said, ``I'm at the easel.''
Soucek, 73, does not sell her creations in stores, ``just to collectors.''
If they want the large paintings, they'd better hurry.
``No more big ones. I'm going for much smaller sizes.''
She goes for oils because, she said, ``Oils are the fine wine of paint.''
One of her paintings shows one of her friends.
``Norman Rockwell sat for me in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He used to come in and smooch my models.'' Soucek said she worked in Stockbridge for several years.
About some of those models:
``I have a barn full of paintings of nudes. This area's not ready for them. It's a shame. There's nothing more beautiful than the human body.''
Rockwell - Mr. Americana Scene - did nudes.
``Few people know that,'' Soucek said.
Another name she tosses around with ease is Andy Warhol.
``I knew him very, very well,'' Soucek said. ``I did his portrait a couple of times.''
How long does it take her to do portraits?
``A long, long time. And, I've paid my bills doing the portraits.'' MEMO: An exhibit of paintings of literary figures by Mary Soucek will be on
display through Oct. 15 at the Rawls Museum. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8:30
p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and
Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Phone: 653-2821.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Mary Soucek, who paints portraits of celebrities, also did this
picture of her mother, Alva Sanders, who was a professional golfer.
by CNB